KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

As I sit here tonight I think it is getting cooler. We have been told that the rest of the week will be in the seventies and the humidity will be gone. One can only hope.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Anthony Chick, who celebrated August 22; Destiney Berninger, Michael Courtney, Joseph Serpa, and Aidan Varkonda, who all partied August 24; Samuel Rollins, Emma Searle, and Lucas Thors take the cake August 25; Elizabeth Kelleher on August 26; Liam Weston blew out his candles August 27; and Andrew Jackson, who celebrates his day today, August 28. Every year it is a challenge to see if it rains on August 23, as five years ago Linley Dolby and David Weagle got married on Linley’s birthday and she picked that day as she told us it never rains on her birthday. Even this year as Hurricane Bill threatened the East Coast it did not rain on August 23. So happy birthday and anniversary and we will see what next year brings.

Special anniversary wishes go out to Bob and Gail Avakian who celebrated their anniversary on August 25.

Congratulations to Michael and Thayer (Whipple) Snowdon on the birth of their daughter, Harley Mathison, who was born August 22, at the Falmouth Hospital. Harley weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and is 20 and one half inches long. Harley is the granddaughter of Nancy Whipple and Jeffery Whipple, both of Edgartown, and Lisa White Snowdon of Natick and Michael Snowdon of Vineyard Haven.

The Jim and Mary Ellen Kresel household was very busy this past week. Susan, Jonathan, Benjamin and Ari Kaden were here for their annual summer vacation on the Vineyard. Mother Nature was good to them as they spent much time on State Beach swimming. On Wednesday Uncle Jonathan and his fiancee, Courtney, arrived with their golden retriever, Kaya. Clare Brauch and Jake Birner, friends from Hanover, N.H. were able to spend time with the family.

Firsts for the boys this year were jumping off the Big Bridge, Ari getting bitten by a crab while out on the sand bar and going clamming with Grandpa Jim and Uncle Josh at Katama Bay. We are not sure who had the most fun as the smiles on both Uncle Josh and Grandpa Jim were pretty big when they came home with quahaugs. Ben, Ari and dad, Jonathan, were proud of their catch and even shared some of the quahaugs with our neighbors. Courtney’s parents, Lyn and Russ Conklin, were able to join us and meet the whole family. They stayed within walking distance at the Jonathan Munroe House on Main street in Edgartown. They were very happy with the accommodations and loved walking around the town.

The Kadens cut their vacation a day short because Hurricane Bill was coming close and they were afraid the boats would not run on Sunday. It was sad to see them leave but they did have a wonderful time with everybody here.

Of course the big news of the week is that the First Family is here on vacation. We have not seen him but have seen the helicopters and planes going over. I do have a secret wish to see him so that I can say that I have seen three Presidents in my lifetime. I saw President Nixon when he came to Newport, R.I. in the 70’s. Of course I was one of the McGovern supporters so when my brother said we were going to Newport to see President Nixon, I said there was no way I wanted to see him. His response was that not many people get to see the President of the United States, so get in the car and keep quiet. I’m glad I did and it was exciting.

Then when President Clinton was here and I did see him I was just as excited and I paid my brother back, as his son Doug was here with us and I saw the settings for President Clinton going to the golf course, so I dragged Doug out of bed to go see him. Doug, who is very Republican, was not going, and that was that, so I pulled out the line my brother used on me all those years before and Doug got in the car and got just as big a thrill as I did.

Well, there has been activity at the school. The irrigation is back on, the cars I recognize as some of the teachers getting the rooms ready and the buses are lining up. I can‘t believe that September is just around the comer.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.