NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Holly Towles and her husband, Khalil Khalil, enjoyed a fabulous cruise through the Pacific between Australia and New Zealand. They started by flying to Sydney where they had a long-anticipated reunion with Khalil’s cousin and childhood friend, Johnny Sayyed. Khalil and Johnny had grown up together in Jerusalem and attended the same Catholic school. They had not seen each other for 40 years! Johnny, his wife, and four beautiful adult children — three gorgeous girls and one handsome young man, have been living in Sydney. Holly was thrilled to meet this branch of Khalil’s family. The cruise was great and informative, lovely weather all around. But Holly enjoyed the ambience of Australia so much she says, “If all goes to hell, I’m going to Australia.” Let’s hope the reunions continue closer than 40 years apart.

Iole and I took a little trip but certainly not as far as Holly’s. Last Friday we drove to the Westchester side of the Tappan Zee Bridge and met some Island aficionados for lunch. Marge Howes, seasonal resident, drove from her home in New Canaan, Conn. Dot Eldefry, Marge’s close friend and frequent Island visitor, came up from New Jersey. The luncheon was a get-together and a celebration of Iole’s upcoming birthday, May 18, and Dot’s on May 19. We ate at the Bistro at the Double Tree Inn. Dot is famous for her needlepoint. She had so thoughtfully made me a needlepoint ladybug she had mounted on a round wooden box. What a treat! I guess we’ll all meet on the Vineyard in a few short months.

As usual, I was evicted from Iole’s house on Wednesday night when she had her Italian class. As you know, my three dogs are very protective of Nonna and do not permit her students in without an earful of barking, which interrupts class. So once again, I was forced to drive to Dunne’s Pub and enjoy another night of Irish music and good company. The dogs enjoy sleeping in the truck. The other Nancy Gardella and I had a lovely dinner with lifetime White Plains resident Grace Gillespie. At the very next table was a terrific threesome of our neighborhood favorites — Pat Ginter, Anne Breslin and Mary Jane McAteer. A special treat, coupled with the fiddle music, was a guitarist from Glasgow, Alan Murray. A grand green time was had by all.

Speaking of Scottish culture, our Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard is presenting a free film at the Chilmark Public Library on Monday, April 26 at 7 p.m. It is the 1945 classic I Know Where I’m Going. Movie starts at 7 p.m. and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Tea and desserts will be served, and all are welcome.

The Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network is wrapping up its season on Thursday, May 6 with an evening meeting this time. The location is th e Baylies Room of the Whaling Church in Edgartown, 6 to 8 p.m. A light supper will be served, all are welcome. The $2,500 first grant for a small business will be awarded. The guest speaker is Lynn Donohue, author, business woman, leadership and sales motivator. Her new book, Brick by Brick, tells how she became a successful millionaire after dropping out of school and living in her car. The program is sponsored by the Bunch of Grapes and Vineyard Stories. Reserve your seat online at mvwomensnetwork.org. You needn’t be a member to attend.

Our ever-active library has archivist Autumn Haag on hand tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. to present a free program on researching your genealogy. The archives division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office is the repository for Massachusetts records dating from the beginning of the Bay Colony in 1628, settlement of land in Maine and Massachusetts, the arrival of immigrants, and the development of state government. Have Autumn help you get started.

On Tuesday, April 27, violinist Cesar Atzic Marquez will give a free concert and talk in the program room at our library at 7 p.m. On Wednesday night, also at 7 p.m., Susan Wilson will read from her new book, One Good Dog. Please bring photos, digital or print, of your one good dog. Do not bring the dog. However, refreshments will be served afterwards, and a “doggie bag” of treats will be your dog’s party favor.

Finally, tomorrow night, in honor of Earth Day, our Martha’s Vineyard Film Society presents No Impact Man at 7:30 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. This is a most interesting experiment conducted by a man who tried to spend a year diminishing his environmental impact. This meant no electricity, no meat, no cars, no busses, no elevators, no refrigerators, no airplanes, and only eating locally grown food products. The problem is Colin, his wife and two-year-old daughter live in Manhattan. Can’t wait to see this one.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Ron and Barsha Tolin on April 26.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Grace Gillespie, Jack O’Keefe, Elizabeth Clark and Fred Beaulieu today. Saturday belongs to Alexis Stoudemire, Ann Wells and Jane Sherman. April 25 is a party for Lorraine Clark, Noah Scheffer, Lindy Ebol, Sarah Codding, Russ Wilson, Betty Roberts and Jennifer Cove. April 26 is senior staff writer Mike Seccombe’s birthday, the day after his home country’s ANZAC holiday. He shares it with Ardis Fitzpatrick, Kristin Lee and Jamie Hale. April 27 is claimed by Jennie Lund-land. April 28 is Ron Tolin’s day, along with Jenna Corey and Paulo Roberto Oliveira. And on April 29 Marci Nichols and Stephen Dunham the Younger take the cake. Many happy returns.