HOLLY NADLER
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If you don’t happen to love dogs, scientific data has shown, you’re missing an opportunity to improve your health and even prolong your life. I’m wondering why dog exposure, in fact, isn’t used as a control factor in medical research. For instance, one group takes a new untested chemical and the other plays and nuzzles with dogs all day. How much you wanna bet the dog group will show better results?
Local dogs and dog-lovers were out in force last Saturday at the Trade Winds air strip, more commonly known as the Dog Park, where Ann and Duncan Ross held their 10th annual doggy birthday party. The birthday boys were the Rosses’ golden retriever Barnum, with his sib Bailey on hand, and Ann Lemenager’s golden retriever, Fenway, with his sister Wrigley in tow. Leah Houghton (who just returned from a scuba dive with her Woods Hole science team in the coral reefs off Saudi Arabia) and John Novak (who I’m used to calling Vak, rhymes with pock, because that’s what they dubbed him back in his Ithaca College days when he was my ex’s roommate) were in attendance with their amiable black mutt, Scout. Deborah Armour brought Chi-Chi, a broad-in-the-beam Chihuahua who’s cute enough to remind us that Mexico imports a whole bunch of fantastic stuff, not just swine flu. Ann and Duncan passed out biscuits to the pooches, and pastries and coffee to the humans. At a certain point the ranks of canines dwindled, and Duncan began packing up goodies and his folding table. Barnum and Bailey were definitely tired of hosting a dog party and all the end-to-end sniffing and jibber-jabber that goes with it, and raced to the car before the few lingering participants could turn and muse, ‘Was it something I said?’
A great time was had by all, and the only regret was that not everyone realized the dress code was black tie.
It occurred to me recently that I hadn’t run into Johnny Seaview , a.k.a. Oliver Perry, in a long time, and it turns out that’s because Johnny has been significantly sick and currently receiving treatment in Medford. The former jockey and World War II hero (at least according to his own awesome stories, and there are a million more where those came from, as anyone knows who’s enjoyed a gab fest with the man), would surely love to hear from his wide fan base at 100-102 Harvard Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 (c/o Oliver H. Perry). Johnny got his nickname from the days when he hung out at the older, dive-ier version of the Seaview Hotel, now condos, whose bar was a cross between Miss Kitty’s saloon in Gunsmoke, and Bogart’s joint in Casablanca, or so say the old-timers who love to reminisce about the place.
Also, speaking of Oak Bluffs celebs, Hamburger, who enjoys a winter office on the cement risers on the Circuit side of Post Office Square, and a summer office on one of the picnic tables outside Giordano’s clam bar, has changed his name to Ice. So put that in your pipe and smoke it — if you can get it to light.
Chuck Davis, the son of Geraldine Cronig of Oak Bluffs and the late Charles Davis, former principal of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, and stepson of the late Robert Cronig, has won friends and admirers on the West Coast. An article in the Monterey County Weekly headlined Photo Finish lauded his achievements in helping to save the Center for Photographic Arts, an institution long associated with Ansel Adams.
Mr. Davis, a photographer who has worked with the Cousteaus, was invited to join the board because of his photographic and new media experience, not his business expertise. But he found the center’s finances in such disarray, it might have to close its doors and forfeit its historic Carmel, Calif., gallery location. He is now the board president, and the center is steadying under his leadership.
A reader, James Thompson of Marina, Calif., followed up with a letter to the editor that further praised Mr. Davis: “Having had the privilege of sharing many dives, cups of coffee and discussions on photography with Chuck Davis over the past decade, I can readily attest to his generosity of spirit. Whether working on behalf of our marine environment, speaking to a student group or emceeing an Underwater Film Festival, Chuck gives cheerfully and wholeheartedly of his time and considerable energies. He is modest to a fault about his accomplishments — a rarity in professional photography.
“When the CPA was rudderless, Chuck stepped in and filled the void, at a real cost to himself, both in time taken away from his own professional responsibilities, and in assuming the workload and demands of the Center. Without his efforts, the CPA might well have capsized.
“The entire Monterey Bay photographic community owes a debt of gratitude to Chuck Davis for his leadership of the CPA Board of Directors during this critical juncture. He may be of ‘the next generation,’ but I have no doubt that he would have been welcome at Ansel’s ‘back in the day.’” Well done, Chuck!
Notice to all shutter-bugs: The Savor The Moment photography contest, sponsored by the Oak Bluffs Library in conjunction with Della Hardman Day, July 25, is actively seeking winning photos for the 2010 Calendar. Entry deadline is May 29; submit up to three photos that reflect the Savor the Moment theme which reminds us all of our beloved, late Della. Ask a library staff member for more details or go to triple dubya dot oakbluffslibrary.org.
Also on the library front, Movie Night will take place on Thursday, May 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. and the film stars Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the story set in a 1960s Catholic grade school.
The upcoming library children’s program is Baby and Toddler Story Time (ages newborn to three), on Wednesday, May 6, at 10:30 a.m.
One last news flash: The MVRHS Minnesingers Annual Spring Benefit, The Beat Goes On, is happening on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, 4 p.m. at the high school Performing Arts Center. The tickets are $10 at the door, with a Mother’s Day Special on Sunday: $25 for a family of four.
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