NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

It’s time to put an end to this specious and ridiculous argument once and for all. What is the dress code for graduation? Cap and gown, with a hood of your school colors. This is the school that educated you, the one you attended with your peers for the four years, the teachers who taught you on behalf of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, the parents who pestered you to finish your homework. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. One graduating class, and I admire and have hopes for you all. When I graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel Academy, our hood colors were blue and white. When I graduated from New York University, coincidentally enough considering our high school, our hood colors were purple and white. When I graduated with a master’s in education from Lesley University, my mother thoughtfully brought up her NYU hood (she had received her master’s in education there in the thirties) thinking I might want to wear it to my Lesley graduation. I chose not to, as it was Lesley University that gave me this education. Once again I wore a hood of blue and white. Many of my friends you know graduated with me in Cambridge that fine spring day in 1992: Janet Stiller, Betsy Hauck, Phyllis DelVecchia, Elaine Cawley Weintraub. I do not recall my esteemed colleague, Elaine Cawley Weintraub, wearing an Irish flag draped over her cap and gown, nor did I wear an Italian flag like a shawl over my shoulders. Lesley University taught me and gave me my degree, not Italy. We were one class, in solidarity. While I have always admired people who have the time and inclination to research their genealogy, I still truly believe that what’s most important is where you are going, not where you are coming from. When Bill and Debbie Little hosted an Italian girl, Margherita, on behalf of the Rotary Club, for her senior year at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, her parents flew from Italy to attend the graduation and no one thought to deck her out in their national flag. Let the graduates wear dresses, skirts, pants, scarves, skivvies, of their country of origin at the many delightful after-parties coming up this Sunday. But at graduation be true to your school and proud of the education you received there. I’ll see you at the Tabernacle.

How can you have fun at a LifeLine screening clinic? I always do, as I did at the Tisbury Senior Center this past Monday. The staff is so professional and welcoming, plus I was able to catch up with neighbors and friends. Amanda and Sharon did a wonderful job, but I must say that I’m in love with Charles and Calvin. Next scheduled on-Island screening is next month in Edgartown. I’ll see you there because I’m bringing cookies to the crew.

If it’s June, it’s Bloomsday. Join me as John Crelan puts on his wonderful annual event at the Katharine Cornell Theatre on Wednesday, June 16 at 8 p.m. This celebration of the works of James Joyce features music and enactments, not just readings of the great Irish writer — hmm, perhaps I’ll wear my Irish flag as a shawl to THIS event. Some of our most talented Islanders will entertain you: Natalie Rose, Gerry Yukevich, Phil Dietterich, David O’Doherty, Buck Reidy, Madison Ibsen and Katrina Nevin. Tickets are a mere $15 and may be purchased at the door. Arts and Society is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. What a way to kick off a cultural summer!

May I be condemned to a stalled car in the middle of Five Corners on an August weekend for aging Grace Schmidt one year. Grace’s June 10 birthday was her 93rd, not her 94th, as I reported last week. God bless you, Grace!

Get well wishes go out to Jan Stokes who is recuperating in Connecticut but soon to be with us again.

Just so you don’t think I’m not multicultural, Feliz Dia de Namorados — Happy Valentines Day — to my Brazilian friends who celebrate on June 12.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Sarah Hope Newton and Ericka Whitten-Stovall, whose special day is June 14.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along John Crews, Flo Koster, Suzanne Walker and Mareda Gaither-Graves today. June 12 is shared by Eleanor Barret Williams and Emmanuelly Nascimento. Take a deep breath, here’s June 13: Les Leland, Ruth McGorty, Lisa Gardella, Ray LaPorte, Patsy Wheeler, Holly Towles, Jackie Montanile and Selma Oliveira. Exhale. June 14 honors Sandi Hakala, Jason Goodwin and Mike Mayrand. June 15 is claimed by Brooksley Crisman. June 16 is for Jason Mead and Joanne Moon Moncada. And on June 17 Joan Murphy, Valerie Pachico and Kelley Henry take the cake. Many happy returns.