Nancy Gardella>

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

This is too cruel. Our MSPCA on Martha’s Vineyard will close on May 1 and there’s no changing the powers that be. We cannot not have an animal shelter on this Island. I understand because of the horrible economy perhaps a shelter closes in Brockton, so you drive to Taunton etc., but we are on an Island. Ron Whitney has given over 30 years of service to our local MSPCA. He will be out of a job May 1. Our animals and our animal problems will still be on Island. Ron is taking a positive approach. He hopes to continue with an Island, community-based shelter. What you can do right now is not pledge money at this time, but pledge your support by e-mailing Ron at: rwhitney@mspca.org or calling 508-627-8662. The hope is to assemble a board of directors from the community. This is too important to put off. Do it now.

I was pleased to see a preview of You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown at the high school on Wednesday. First show was last night; remaining dates are tonight at the Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m., tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The kids have worked very hard and it shows. Students and seniors get in for $7; grownups may attend for $10. Don’t miss it.

I’m reminding you and your children about the online essay contest for the League of Women Voters about Democracy and Change. There are categories for fourth graders on up to special questions for the 18 to 24-year-olds. The deadline is midnight March 6. Check it out on lwvma.org/contestdates09.shmtl or call 617-523-2999. I would love to announce that one of our Island kids won.

Our library continues with dynamite programs. If you sign up for the free course on Saturday, Feb. 21, continued on Saturday, Feb. 28, you will not only be taught how to use the Clams overdrive service to download library materials but you will be entered in a drawing to win a free MP3 player. Sign up at the circulation desk or at vhlibrary.org.

That’s not all. For Valentine’s Day tomorrow, librarian Cecily Greenaway and chef Janet Langhammer will give a cooking demonstration at 2 p.m. The subject is chocolate covered tuxedo strawberries and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Space is limited for this free demonstration, but you will have samples to take home. Register at vhlibrary.org or at the circulation desk. Unfortunately, I am allergic to these three items.

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society is showing The Last Mistress as it’s Valentine’s offering tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. This is a story of love and intrigue set in 19th century France. The film is in French with English subtitles. I recommend it to you all and to the students in the French classes I had last week who might like to hone their skills.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Lizanne Donegan and Brian Doherty on Feb. 19.

The birthday bandwagon is overloaded. Today it pulls along Chloe Nolan, Brenda Campbell, Linda Amaral Dickson, Kristen Daly, Fiona Catherine Mayhew, and Tom Buchert. Valentine’s Day is a party for Tim Clark, Ray Whitaker, Alan Hirschberg, Gayle Stiller, Linda Jannace O’Leary and Sam Bungey. Feb. 15 honors Grace Burton-Sundman and Heliliani Mendes Souza. Feb. 16 is for Jane Newman, Mary Lee Gerber, Father Michael Nagle, Chelsea Rose King and Stephen Kaufman. Feb. 17 shines on Leslie Kent, Jill LaPiana and Colin Kennedy. Feb. 18 is claimed by Charlotte Strople, AJ Ewart, and my favorite bartender, Paul Howes. And on Feb. 19 Chris Paffendorf, Noreen Bettencourt, Michael James Moore, Bobby Gordineer and Justin Keough take the cake. Many happy returns.