NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

What a wonderful welcome our Islanders gave to my two marines, Chris Clark and Librada Garza Clark, when they disembarked at the Steamship Authority landing last Thursday night. The police, fire department, ambulance, veterans and many of our thoughtful citizens were there to welcome them to the island for the summer. Chris and Lilly parked the car, exited with their two sons, Corbyn and Dominic, and were treated to Edson Rogers playing the Marine Corps anthem. Thank you all for recognizing their service.

The family arrived with Fuzzhead, one of their dear cats. Unfortunately, when they packed the car in the morning in White Plains after a one-night stop at Nonna’s, Puss, the orange, long-haired, much shyer cat, escaped. We have a reward and a wanted poster out on Puss. Our local barber, Sal Alfano, is on the case. With all his connections, if anyone can locate a cat in New York state, it is Sal. We hope to have a completely reunited family soon.

Our Poppy Girl, Annie Duarte, reports a successful sale totaling $700 from this year’s Memorial Day fundraiser. Annie thanks all who bought a poppy or helped out.

Our evening lecture series at the library offers a special event next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. James Thomas, founding president of the U.S. Slave Song Project, will speak on the history and interpretation of spirituals. You are welcome to this free event.

Tomorrow night, a Tribeca film festival award winner, The Cats of Mirikitani, is the fare at 8 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, brought to you by the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society. I’ll see you there.

And you know I’ll return to Katharine Cornell on June 16 when the oldest continuous celebration of Bloomsday on the planet begins at 8 p.m. This year features a variety of selections, all performances, not readings. Tony Peak sets the mood with his bagpipes. Gerry Yukevich will perform from A Mother from Dubliners. Donal O’Sullivan gives Father Arnall’s sermon from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. If you adore the works of James Joyce, or, if you are not familiar with him yet, please join me. Tickets may be purchased at the door or at Bunch of Grapes. There is a discount for students and seniors. Arts and Society, a non-profit organization, is produced and organized by John Crelan. Call 508-696-0539 for more information.

Well, high school graduation is once more upon us. This beautiful and always poignant ceremony takes place at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs on Sunday. The rounds of parties and celebrations are planned. I applaud the students’ accomplishments, but I am always sad to see them go. Be sure to come back to visit us between your travels and endeavors.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Hildy Mitchell and Denise Searle today. Tomorrow is shared by Grace Murphy, Larry Leuning and Trude Hart. June 8 is a party for Miles Gross, Wendy Fitting, David Alan Friedman and Marshall Cole Pratt. June 9 is claimed by Elizabeth Baldwin, Tasha Bahal, Elinor McCabe and Naromar De Paula Jr. June 10 shines for Grace Schmidt, Crystal Baker, Ruth Stiller and Joshua Robinson-White. June 11 honors John Crews, Flo Koster, Suzanne Walker and Mareda Gaither-Graves. And on June 12, Eleanor Barret Williams and Emanuelly Nascimento take the cake. Many happy returns.