KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

kathleencase@comcast.net

By the time you read this article you will probably be bracing for Earl to hit. Hopefully you are all safe and have everything battened down.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Gregory Allan and Ruby Mercier, who celebrated their day August 30.

I apologize to those students who are not listed here; I need to get the new list and I will do that asap.

Special wishes go out to Adeline (Addie) Smith, who celebrated her third birthday on August 27, David Vaughn and Manny Estrella (a milestone birthday) August 29, and to Marylyn Wortman and Brooke Raymond and Gail Palacio, who celebrated their day August 31.

Erika Bettencourt celebrated a milestone birthday on August 27 and her husband, Tony Bettencourt, decided to do something different for her as a surprise, as Erika will dig and dig until she figures out what the surprise is. So on the Monday before Erika’s birthday, Tony booked a party on the fast ferry to take Erika and a few hundred of their closest friends for a cruise. Word traveled fast and 182 guests boarded the boat on Saturday evening and waited for the guest of honor.

The unsuspecting guest of honor came down the dock, to talk to Bridget Tobin, and heard the cheering as she approached the ramp. We were all pleased to see the disbelief on Erika’s face as we knew she never figured it out. The cruise took us to Gay Head (oops, Aquinnah) for the sunset which was fantastic, and on the way back the Boogies played their tunes for a happy audience. It was a great night and many of the passengers, including yours truly, had never seen the north shore from a boat’s point of view or the Cliffs at their brightest with the sun setting across from them.

Happy birthday Erika and we can’t wait to see what Tony does for the next birthday.

Pat and Buddy Wyatt’s household has been rocking the past couple of months with the annual visits of daughter Joylynn and grandchildren Madelyn, five, and Ryan, six, in July from Canandaigua, N.Y, where Joylynn is manager of a national shoe store. In August daughter Stefanie and grandson Cole, also six, arrived from New York state, where mom teaches at Cornell University. Grandpa Bud and Grammie Pat had a blast showing Mattie and Ryan off at the Holy Ghost Feast and spending time at the beach every day. They both enjoyed State Beach, the carousel, ice cream and Grandpa’s barbecue.

When Stefanie and Cole arrived, Buddy and Pat were busy again with the Oak Bluffs fireworks and the fair, where Pat and Cole were the only ones brave enough to ride the Scrambler. Friday and Saturday were the only good beach days so most of those days were spent riding boogie boards in the surf. Cole and Grandpa had a wonderful time building Legos the last three rainy days of the visit. Now with the family gone, it’s back to painting, yard work and golf until next year’s visits.

The grands were the highlight of the summer but the Wyatts have also entertained family from Spofford, N.H., and friends from Yuma, Ariz., Port Richey, Fla., and Buffalo, N.Y.

There will be an open house at the new fire museum at the Wing Road Station in Oak Bluffs Saturday, Sept. 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. All are welcome.

Deb Norton was here for a few days with her mom and dad, Jan and Floyd Norton. She also came to see friends she had not seen in a long time. Deb was searching on Facebook and found these friends and got in contact with them and set a date to meet them while they were on the Island visiting in Harthaven.

Facebook is a great way to get in touch with people you have not seen in a long time.

With the war coming to an end it gave me some concern on how to end my column as the home candles have helped to bring men and women home, I believe. However, there are still many that are in many different locations so I have decided to leave it in my closing for those families still waiting to have their soldiers home safely from their duties.

Have a safe and healthy Labor Day; if you are among those who have to travel to your homes off-Island, I wish you safe travels.

Have a great week, and keep the home candles burning.