KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

We have had enough rain and now it is on to the heat. If the weather is going to be as warm as they say, I think we are in the right place. But please be careful and wear sunscreen and drink lots of fluids.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Aidan Smith who celebrated June 30, Abner Oliveira, July 1, Charles Fenske, July 2, Landin Medeiros, July 3 and to Ella Willoughby who celebrates her day today, July 5.

Special balloons go out to Bobby Brown who celebrated a milestone birthday last week. Happy birthday Bobby, and here’s to many more.

Once again last week’s column is in cyberspace. I lost one page I wrote. I did it again and copied and pasted it and sent it along. Then I got a message from Vanessa that she needed the column. I called and told her I sent it the day before and she said “no.” I checked my mail and there was no copy. I know I wasn’t dreaming but I think that the column was not meant to be. I apologize to those who sent me things for activities for the Fourth.

Congratulations go out to our best and brightest on their recent Best of the Vineyard accolades bestowed by Martha’s Vineyard Magazine. Our Edgartown winners include Mad Max Sailing Adventures, Wheel Happy, Fern & Feather Day Camp at Felix Neck, Christmas in Edgartown, CB Stark, The Black Dog, Sharky’s Cantina, Atria, Soigné, Morning Glory Farm, Mad Martha’s, Rosbeck Builders, Walter Smith Plumbing, Helene Schaeffer of Island Dentistry, Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank, Stagecoach Taxi, Harbor View Hotel and Winnetu Oceanside Resort. And for runners-up, we have Coop’s Bait & Tackle, Wharf Pub and Restaurant, Alchemy, Entertainment Cinemas, Edgartown Books, Claudia, The Seafood Shanty, Espresso Love, Humphreys Bakery, The Newes from America, Donaroma’s, Edgartown Hardware, Granite Ace Hardware, Landscope Landscape Company, Dolby Electric. Sandpiper Realty, Dr. John Hartley, Edgartown National, Adam Cab, and Dave Tuminaro of Caring for Animals.

Join Motema Music and Media Voices For Children at Flatbread for an Afrobeat Dance Party with Awa Sangho on Thursday, July 11. The VIP reception begins at 8 p.m., followed at 9:30 with the concert and dance party. The event will benefit The Same Heart, a global campaign to help children in poverty. Advanced tickets are available online at ticketsmv.com and Aboveground Records. For further info, contact Media Voices for Children at 508-693-0752.

The families have all arrived on the Vineyard for the Fourth. It is funny to listen to the parents who come in fixing their gardens or touching up their window boxes putting flowers in that the kids will enjoy and like to pick for vases. Then there are the landlords who are renting their houses and want their place to look nice but know that there will be little care done to them by the renters. They always ask “What can I plant that can take lots of sun and wind, and possibly no water?” I smile and say, you know how many times I hear that question? But we do find some things and sometimes the renters feel sorry for the plants and give them water.

I hope you all had a great Fourth and are still enjoying your family and visitors. If you would like to share your visit or visitors, email or call me.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.