NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Doesn’t the new hospital look great? I am still confused when I go in there, but it looks like the end is near. Wish I could say the same for the bridge.

Beautiful weather, and beautiful friends are visiting. Bill and Jan Stokes are here. Mareda Gaither-Graves is expecting to come up after she gives her concert in Russian in New York. My new baby, Teddy Paul Bruschi Kennedy Gardella, is adapting well to the dogs and enjoying the first autumn of his little feline life.

Louisa Gould and JB were married on Island on Sept. 19. Their honeymoon will wait until late October as she has mounted a new show at her gallery on Main street, Abstractions II, from today, Oct. 2 until Oct. 18. Featured artists are Louisa, Ed Cohen, Deborah T. Colter, Jeanne Campbell and Roberta Gross. Stop by to take in the new work and some refreshments. And may Louisa and JB live happily ever after.

The off-season breakfasts at the American Legion Post 257 on Martin Road commence this Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Grownups eat for $6, kids under 12 eat for $3. You can’t beat the price and the camaraderie. I’ll see you there.

There will be a six-week hurricane preparation course offered by the American Red Cross. Call Michael Robbins at 508-888-7316 or visit online train@cciredcross.org to sign up. It’s not too early to tell you that our Cape and Islands Red Cross chapter is also looking for your “Heroes” nominations, which must be submitted by Dec. 22 this year. The awards ceremony is on March 4, 2010. We are looking for a Red Cross volunteer of the year. Visit: info@cciredcross.org or call Michael at the above number with your candidate.

Tonight at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, Richard Paradise, fresh from his annual international film festival, presents an Argentinian film, The Headless Woman, in Spanish with English subtitles. The premise is amazing and magical. Martha’s Vineyard Film Society members are admitted for $5, any other patrons get in for $8. Time to start thinking about joining the film society. Call 774-392-2972 for more information.

Saturday, Oct. 3, the Chilmark Community Center presents Drops in the Stream, a multi-faceted program of music, poetry and dance at 5:30 p.m.

Michael Hayden has trained at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has a particular love of jazz, blues, Broadway tunes and popular songs of the last century. You may hear his performance for free at the Vineyard Haven Public Library on next Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. Some of his repertoire will be Miles Davis, Jerome Kern and John Coltrane. I’ll see you there.

Up-Island might be the place to be this weekend. The third annual Living Local Harvest Fest will be at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury tomorrow, 35 Panhandle Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A community potluck dinner will be held there from 6 to 10 p.m. Come visit with your neighbors and see what living locally is all about.

There’s no end to the festivities. The Comsog (Community Solar Greenhouse) Fall Festival takes place on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 114 New York avenue in Oak Bluffs from noon to 3 p.m. Come eat free soup from Linda Jean’s, peruse the knit and baked goods, the attic treasures, check out the artists and artisans who may display for free, join in the fun, raffles and prizes. I’ll see you there.

Get well wishes continue to go out to Louise Tierney and Martha Dunham.

Anniversary bouquets are sent to Ray and Laurel Redington-Whitaker on Oct. 5, Don and Hildy Mitchell on Oct. 6, and Arthur and Priscilla Dickson on Oct. 7.

Belated birthday balloons go out to Alan Peterson, who celebrated yesterday.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Bill Wingert and Mary Etherington today. Tomorrow is shared by Toby Codding and Jeanie Hay-Sternbach. Sunday is a party for Fred Legg, Rebecca Palmer, Lizzie Andrews, Michael Sawyer and Zach Post. October 6 honors Megan Willey and Ross MacPherson. And on Oct. 7 Kim Samuels takes the cake. Many happy returns.