NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Carol Osborn just returned from a great trip to Norway. Jim and Carol’s son, Christopher, married Lisa a few years back. This is Carol’s second trip to see her son and Norwegian daughter in law, and the first time she’s seen her new grandchild, three-month-old Benjamin Logan Osborn. Ben, soon to be four months, is thriving as are his parents. Chris and Lisa live in Ski, a small town outside of Oslo, pronounced “she.” Lisa, now out of the military, is taking a maternity leave from her studies in physiotherapy after three years in school in Bergen. Grandpa Jim Osborn of our town could not go on the trip this time; Carol has brought back lots of photos and some video clips. Chris Osborn, who wrote to me last year that he was having trouble with the language, is now bilingual. He is working at a museum. Carol toured many museums with her family, including a museum with people in period costumes from 1200 to 1800, the Fram Museum which features the first ship that made it to the North and South Poles, the Viking Museum, and the Kon-Tiki Museum, all in Oslo. The kids took her on side trips. Carol saw the first apartments the couple lived in when they were in Bergen. The group took a lovely train trip there, with hefty little Ben’s eyes open and wondrous. They also had time to attend a string quartet concert of Pier Gynt. Carol said the weather was beautiful, Norway temperature was about 10 degrees lower than our temperatures in August. If you have any questions about Norway, or want to see the new Ben Osborn, look forward to their visit on Island at Christmastime.

Chris Paffendorf broke up her Vineyard sojourn to attend the 50th reunion of her nursing class from the Benedictine College of Nursing in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Chris was hosted by her good friend, Joan Cody, also of Rhinebeck. Of her 19 classmates, 18 made it to the reunion! Chris also took time to visit friends in New York and George and Rosemary Tamaro in Bristol, R.I., who are there when they are not here at their Island retreat. If you want to catch Chris before she returns to New Mexico on Oct. 5, I know where she is! Call me.

Katie Mayhew is going places. Katie has been invited to sing at London’s Cadogan Hall, home of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, on Oct. 6. The occasion is an annual fundraiser and awards event. Last year, Michelle Obama was among the honorees and Helen Mirren was among the guests. Wish we could be there.

I always thought it was a shame that our high school did not have a swim team. Thanks to the new YMCA, that will change. We have meetings for interested participants at the high school in October; the swim club will begin in November. Congratulations!

Speaking of working out, this coming Sunday’s free exercise class for Mansion House members and nonmembers alike will have a new time, 3:30 p.m., so you can get home in time to cook a healthy dinner. I’ll see you there.

I think our town is the center of film enthusiasts the world over. The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society hosts yet another festival, tonight and tomorrow night, the Manhattan Short Film Festival, at Katharine Cornell Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m., the films begin at 7:30 p.m. Members are admitted for $7, nonmembers get in for $10. There are many wonderful shorts; visit ManhattanShort.com or call Richard Paradise at 1-774-392-2972. I’ll see you there.

Here’s your heads-up for the first seasonal get-together of the Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network. Members and nonmembers may join us at the Atlantic Restaurant in Edgartown, formerly the Navigator, for a free party on Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring your business cards and network. Cash bar and dinner from the menu are available. I’ll see you there.

Phyllis Vecchia, our town representative for the local cultural council, invites you to a free grant writing workshop at the Howes House in West Tisbury at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Information packets are available at Island town halls and libraries. If you need more information, call Phyllis at 508-696-8738.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Judy Federowicz today. Tomorrow is a party for twins Pedro Carvalho and Penha Prata, who celebrate with Monica Rodrigues, Daniel Gardella, Bunny Schwentker, Lindsey Gonsalves, Chris Chappell, and John James Chadwick. Sept. 26 is shared by Jillian Guest and Calla Gillies. Sept. 27 honors Jason Lew and Stephen Serusa. Sept. 28 is claimed by Pat Gardella. Sept. 29 is for Karen George. And on Sept. 30 Kandace Sylvia, Gay Smith, and Walter Burke take the cake. Many happy returns.