JUNE MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Congratulations to Isaac and Noli Taylor on the birth of their son, Emmett Cole Taylor, who was born June 5 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and subsequently transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital. Emmett arrived home from Boston on Wednesday and is doing very well. He is the first grandson of Captain Hugh and Jeanne Taylor of the Outermost Inn and was welcomed home by his first cousins Olive and Violet and their parents Alexandra and Shaun MacPhail, who reside next door. Emmett is the great-grandson of Trudy Taylor of Chilmark and Donald Smith of Chilmark. His Vineyard roots are very deep in and around the Aquinnah and Chilmark communities.

Congratulations and all the best to the students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School as they participate in their Class Night activities this evening and their graduation exercises on Sunday.

On Sunday, June 7, Aquinnah Wampanoag graduates were honored by their tribe, their families and their friends with a lobster roll and chowder luncheon at the tribal building. Opening prayer was offered by Chief F. Ryan Malonson, and Tribal Elder Gladys A. Widdiss offered a very heartwarming and inspirational closing prayer. Of note, Gladys (Malonson) Widdiss was the valedictorian of her class at the Tisbury High School. Black Brook Drum performed an honor song for the students. Congratulatory remarks were offered by tribal council chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, education director Heidi Vanderhoop, and education committee chair Martha Vanderhoop.

Those students graduating and in attendance at the luncheon included Sean Carney, who will attend Providence College; Thomas Fantasia, who will attend University of Maine; Kayla Manning and Tyler Moreis, who will attend University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth; Michael Sellitti, who will attend High Point College; and Kailoni Williams.

Condolences to the family of Mrs. Eileen Averill whose services were held on Saturday with the sun shining down upon one and all following nearly a week of rain.

My Facebook friend Geraldine Averill and I will stay in touch with each other over the summer months.

Thank you to the Vineyard Gazette for their historical report on the 50th year of graduates at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Of note, Catherine (Amaral) Deese was the first student to receive her diploma at the MVRHS. Sometimes it pays to be at the beginning of the alphabet.

Ronald B. Jeffers has been discharged from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and has returned to his Aquinnah home following a long period of hospitalization over the past few months. He is being cared for by his daughter Audrey.

Carl M. Widdiss and Pam Glavin returned home on Saturday after spending the week in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia with Sue Battiste and her family. They traveled to Canada to attend the funeral services for Tom Battiste, a friend of many in Aquinnah and the first tribal administrator.

Weekends are sushi time at Faith’s Seafood Snack Bar at the Cliffs. They have quite an assortment of sushi as well as two varieties of quahaug chowder and steamed lobsters on the menu.

While traveling up-Island for your gastronomic delights, Carl Stunkel at the Chilmark Store has a great offer for the remainder of the month of June. Buy one pizza and get the second one at half-price of the same of lesser value.

Flag Day is a day of celebration on June 14 for Elmer Vanderhoop, Cheryl Vanderhoop-Sellitti, and Mike Mayrand. Sylvia Lima will party on June 15 and shares the day with Kristina Ann Kestenbaum Williams Hook Leslie.

A very happy third birthday wish to my youngest grandchild Noah James Manning as he celebrates his very special day on June 16 amid family and friends.

Lisa Lane will party on June 16. Tabitha Rose will celebrate on June 17 and shares the day with Flip Scipio, Nancy Leport, and Greg Borchow. Ashley Johnson will be seven years old on June 18, while Elliott Bonham Berz will be four years old and they will share the day with Dr. Gary Zwicky.