NANCY GARDELLA
508-693-3308
The call is out for all to help put up the 450 flags at our Avenue of Flags, Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. We could also use your help taking them down at 3 p.m. Honor our country’s independence day, and make some great friends while doing it. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. in Edgartown. I hear the Rotary Club float is terrific and will feature its new leader, president Bill Little. Fireworks are on in Edgartown for when it gets dark. I will be home protecting my shivering dogs who hate the sounds of the booms.
So many of our favorite seasonals have returned. Big welcome homes go out to David Lott and Elise Ryan, Martin and Gail Becker, Phil and Debbie Dine, John and Betty Roberts, Allan and Michele Berman, and Helen Szanto. This is Allan and Michele’s 12th summer on-Island; their whole clan is coming! Son M.J. and his wife Annie Lou arrived with their 19-month-old son, Charlie, and their dog, Huck. Charlie will go beaching, see the Farm Institute, and take a pony ride. Charlie and his parents are ready to welcome a new baby in August. The Berman’s other son, Greg, and his wife Carolyn, have arrived with daughter Hannah, age 10, and seven-year-old Milly. The brood expects to take art lessons, gymnastics, and work on their swimming skills. Other family pastime’s are collecting and painting rocks and playing Bingo. Allan and Michele celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on June 24, the day they arrived. Congratulations!
Renowned writer, Phil Dine, son of my dear buddies, Joe and Laurie Dine, has arrived with his wife, Debbie, and their children, Alexander, Jessica, and Joelle, from Washington, D.C. I met all of these well-spoken and well-behaved kids at Phil’s book signing at Bunch of Grapes last year. While Phil has won all kinds of accolades for his news reporting work, most especially at the St.Louis Post Dispatch, I am here to tell you his book, State of the Unions, is amazing. Pick it up at our newly reopened bookstore.
I saw our library children’s room director, Kathy Stinson, walking my neighborhood with an elegant lady last week. Just had to find out who, so I went up to introduce myself. Sure enough, it is Kathy’s mom, Helen Szanto, visiting from San Jose, Calif. Helen expects to be here through September. When I announced my mother’s upcoming visit and proudly told her age — 92 — Helen bested me with saying she will be 93 in August. Guess what? She shares her birthday with two handsome and very smart men who are always on Island for their birthdays on August 19, Bill Clinton and Jeff Pratt.
Kathy filled me in on registration for the summer reading program at our library, Starship Adventure. On the first day of registration, 65 kids signed up! Last year 300 were in session. There will be a visit from Curious George, music, authors, illustrators, prizes, and T-shirts. Get your kids and grandkids and go sign up! And don’t miss singing and music for all ages with the Allards on Thursday, July 9, at 11 a.m.
Peter and Ronni Simon invite you to a gala reception on Sunday, July 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided by renowned Island chef, Ben DeForest. Peter’s 2010 calendar will be available, as well as Ronni’s amazing beaded wall sculptures. A varied selection of unusual yarns for knitting and crochet projects will be displayed, all at reasonable cost. Weekly classes in these two fine arts begin on July 14. Call Ronni at 508-325-2242 for more information.
In the same neighborhood, in fact, the very next store, Louisa Gould plans a day of art on Sunday, July 5. Jewelry designer Francesca Lewis Kennedy will have a trunk show from 1 to 5 p.m. Then from 5 to 7 p.m. come to an artists’ reception for new works by Christopher Pendergast, Leslie Smith, Caryn King, and Stephen Hart.
How did we get so artsy? The Shaw Cramer Gallery has a show of New Discoveries, works in clay, glass, jewelry, furniture, and paintings. The show will run from July 3 through July 17, 56 Main street, Vineyard Haven.
How do you like our monsoon season? Sure glad I didn’t spring the big bucks for an irrigation system this year. In other wonders of nature news, my favorite uncle, Manlio Jannace, of Farmington, Conn., went into his garage to start his car last week. And was confronted by a huge black bear eating from his tin of birdseed. Discretion being the better part of valor, Manlio removed himself from the garage. Talk about keeping your doors locked!
Anniversary bouquets go out to Doug and Leslie Hewson today, proprietors of Mediterranean in its new location at the former Lola’s. July 4 celebrates the anniversary of Arthur and Charlotte Strople, as well as their son in law and daughter, Tim and Tootie Kieffer. July 9 is for Steve and Judy Nichols.
The birthday bandwagon pulls along Christine Geddis, Larry Gomez, and Hans Buder today. July 4 sees Julie Schilling, Cora Medeiros, Steve McCarthy, Derek Araujo, and Steve Nichols celebrate with our country. July 5 is for Cathy Burdick, Michael McCloskey, and Pat Murphy. July 6 sees Carol Fleming, Selma Balbino, and Kerry Sertl age gracefully. July 7 honors Kyle Natichioni, Peggy Jewett, and Julie Fisher. July 8 is claimed by Jordan Stallings. And on July 9 Nancy Hoffmann, Richard Clark, Bruce Bailey, Nathan Herrick, Matt Lobdell, and Gloria Mendez take the cake. Many happy returns, I’ll see you at the street fair.
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