NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Chocolate lovers — and who isn’t? — tonight, at Featherstone Gallery, begins a weekend Chocolate Festival from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring chocolate martinis, chocolate tasting, champagne, fine wines and live musical entertainment. The $50 admission charge raises money for Featherstone, a great addition to our Island arts. The festival continues Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. I’ll see you there.

Karen Coffey and her husband, Daniel P. Koch, are happy and pleased to announce that their son, Dan Koch, has made dean’s list for the first two semesters at New England Technology. How well I remember Dan from high school! This kid is going places.

My son, Chris Clark, and his wife, Librada Garza Clark, had a brief visit on Island last weekend, without sons Corbyn and Dominic. It was lovely to see them and all too brief. I shall catch up with the whole family when I visit Rockford, Ill., for Thanksgiving.

It’s one of our final weekends, but on Martha’s Vineyard, the weekends are truly never final. Louisa Gould Gallery is having a Columbus Day sale with 10 to 30 per cent off; the gallery on Main street is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Right next door, the Simon Gallery is also offering a Columbus Day weekend sale with a discount on framed photos and 15 to 40 per cent off Ronni Simon’s amazing jewelry. Peter Simon’s kick-off is Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Alert to all campers and lovers of s’mores! Felix Neck is holding a family campout on Friday, Oct. 15. Preregistration is required. Call 508-627-4850 or register online at massaudobon.org/felixneck. Members bring families for $25, nonmembers attend for $35.There will be a guided moonlight tour, traditional campfire and storytelling, and, of course, s’mores. Bring your own tents and sleeping bags. This promises to be one of the last great weekends for camping this season.

The Mansion House continues with free workout sessions this Sunday, Oct. 10 at 3:30 p.m. The workout is free for health club members and nonmembers. All are invited to use the hot tub, sauna and steam room after the workout. I’ll see you there.

I had a lovely chat with Emmett Eaton at his nursing home in Connecticut; if you need his number, call me. Emmett misses his Island friends and is so glad we are all thinking of him. He was pleased to hear about the very successful Rotarian pig roast last weekend.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Charles and Carolyn Snow Redington on Oct. 10.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jesse Evan Klein Jacobs at three years old on Oct. 9, along with Sarah Von Bremen at 25 and Donna Rhoades. Oct. 11 is for Rob Laffie. Oct. 12 is a party for Caitlin Crossland, Kristin Siple, Mardell Francis and Kenon Vero. Oct. 12 is shared by Jaime Conroy, Arvi Bahal and Sabrina Flipse. Oct. 13 honors John Sylvia, Vania Ruas and Marcos Arado. And on Oct. 14, Amaru Pareju takes the cake. Many happy returns.