JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Congratulations to attorney general Martha Coakley on her victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for our U.S. Senate seat. As Aquinnah goes, so goes the Commonwealth.

In Aquinnah, the board of registrars certainly appreciated the generosity of voters’ donations of delectable delights to sustain us throughout the day.

Fellow Vineyard Gazette writer Mark Alan Lovewell has his sea shanty songs on CD just in time for Christmas stocking stuffers. For those of us up-Island, Alley’s General Store carries a great selection of CDs of many Vineyard musicians including Kate Taylor, Phil daRosa, Colin Ruel, Jemima James, Willy Mason, Judd Fuller (who is now part of Rodney Atkins band in Nashville and recently completed a national tour) and many more.

All the best to my friend Sue Mitchell as she is moving to Vermont to be close to her family. Friends will gather this evening at the PA Club in Oak Bluffs at 6 p.m. for a potluck dinner to wish Sue a fond farewell.

Get well wishes to Madeline (Cookie) Gazaille Perry who underwent surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday after we had the great fortune of seeing each other while at Mass General one week ago.

Get well wishes to Corinne Averill Marshall Hatt Stone, fellow MVRHS classmate, with her illness.

Also in time for the holidays is Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop’s Vineyard Sea Dog calendar for 2010, available at the crafts sale at Edgartown School tomorrow 10 a.m. to 4 p.m It is also for sale at Alley’s, Rainy Day and SBS. A portion of her profits goes to the animal shelter.

Congratulations to Aretha Theodosia Angelique Witham and Keron Brown, who were married on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the Gay Head Light at 4 p.m. by Justice of Peace John S. Alley. Aretha is the daughter of Kate Taylor and the late Charles Witham. She is a graduate of Berklee School of Music and has been an emergency dispatcher for the Dukes County Sheriff’s Department for the past few years. Keron is originally from St. Ann, Jamaica. He is a chef now working in Falmouth and is looking forward to moving to the Vineyard in the spring. A reception was held in the lighthouse and attended by the bride’s mom, Kate Taylor, her sisters, Aquinnah Witham and Elizabeth Witham, brother in law Ken Wentworth, aunt and uncle Joan LeLacheur and Richard Skidmore, her cousin Isaac Taylor, his wife Noli and their six-month-old son, Emmett Cole Taylor, whom his great-grandmother Trudy notes has been singing since he was two months old. During the outdoor service, Aretha’s cousin Alexandra Taylor drove around Aquinnah Circle with her twins, Olive and Violet MacPhail. They all enjoyed a beautiful sunset All the best to Aretha and Keron.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Thomas (Dilly) Walsh who passed away at his Chilmark home on Dec. 1 following nearly three years of Lou Gehrig’s disease which never took away his gentle, fun-loving spirit. Despite his illness, he never lost sight of his caring for others. We last caught up with each other at the powwow in Aquinnah in September and shared that laughter once again. He will be greatly missed by many who treasured his zest for life.

Naomi Scott, daughter of Frank and Linda (Garvin) Scott, a senior at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, is already enrolled and looking forward to attending Dartmouth College next year. Naomi was responsible for initiating the Students for Global Change club at MVRHS and recently conducted a clothing drive, collecting seven large containers of clothing, all delivered to the Roxbury Children’s Shelter on Monday. She plans another clothing drive in January, and in March, a food drive.

Durwood Vanderhoop celebrated his birthday on Saturday amid family and friends at their winter rental in Pancake Hollow. A grand time was had by all.

Terri MacLean, tribal nutritionist, will host Recipe Makeovers on Tuesday evening, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Tribal Building. For reservations, please call Terri at 508-645-9265, extension 125.

The Eastern Social Dance and Sing classes for toddlers will be held on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6 p.m. through Dec. 17, then resume in the New Year.

The Aquinnah community programs committee is cookie baking and decoration making tomorrow at the old town hall from 1 to 4 p.m. Please stop by and help them prepare for the community holiday gathering on Dec. 19. The committee thanks the Stony Squaw Gift Shop for their donation of decorations.

The Vineyard chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists will meet on Monday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Family History Center at Merchants Mart in Tisbury. All welcome. Get well wishes to Claire Nickerson Hall who returned to her Edgartown home recently following her hospitalization. She especially enjoyed her visits from Patty Gesner and calls and cards from family and friends.

Get well wishes to Nancy Luedeman who celebrated her birthday this week while at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

Happy 10th anniversary wishes to Leigh and Christy Moreis as they celebrate on Dec. 12.

Happy birthday wishes this week to grandson Christopher Manning on Dec. 12. Aquinnah firefighter Charlie Thomas will celebrate on Dec. 13. Ariana Feldberg parties on Dec. 16 and shares the day with Doug Plumer. Frank Scott’s special day is Dec. 17. Steven Roth’s is Dec. 18.