JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Welcome to Stela Plamenova Duncheva, who arrived at 1 a.m. on January 1, 2011 — which will be a memorable day for her as the New Year’s baby at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Stela is the daughter of Ena Thulin and Plamen Duncheva and the granddaughter of Sarah and Dennis Thulin of East Pasture. She is also welcomed by her sister, Eleonora Plamenova Duncheva.

The Aquinnah Public Library will be filled with activities for the next few months. Library director Cathy Thompson and her staff, Emma and Natalie, will offer something for everyone to participate in and enjoy each day the library is open. Coffee hours will resume on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. to noon for not only coffee but tea, hot chocolate and snacks. Join with your family, friends and neighbors and have fun.

After-nap story time will be held every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 3:30 with not only stories but crafts as well for three to seven-year-olds. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the parents are encouraged to participate in reading to the children. Every month there will be a special color of the month. Come dressed in the color of the month and Emma will read stories full of blue, red, yellow or green and then work on a craft project with the color. January 20 will be blue! Fun snacks will be served from 4 to 5 p.m. Please let the staff know of any food allergies.

The first Tuesday of each month will be a needlecraft group from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the library. Bring any crochet, knitting or needlepoint projects you are working on and join in the company of others. Beginners are welcome. Hot beverages and snacks will be available. There are new needlecraft books available for new projects and assistance will be right at your fingertips from intermediate needle crafters.

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival will be held tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. Tickets are $10 for nonmembers. Dinner (not included in the ticket price) will be provided by Slow Food MV and music will be provided before the short films for children are shown.

ACE MV will have many wonderful classes beginning on Jan. 10. Lynn Ditchfield reminds all that you may still register online (acemv.org).

Congratulations to our Aquinnah students at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School on their achieving the honor roll for the first quarter of 2010. They are Clara Corjulo, Molly Fischer, Alayna Hutchinson, Ella Mahoney and Faith Smalley.

Trips down-Island are rather interesting these days. It is always a pleasure to meet up with longtime friends and even to see distant family members on occasion. Perhaps the most astounding though is to find a business that was once there is now moved to a new location. Brian Athearn of MV Tech has moved across the road from Merchant Mart to the SBS building. Danielle Bailey and her Kiddo’s store is moving from Tisbury Marketplace to 42 Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs and will open in her new location this weekend. Ricky Vanderhoop and Larry Conroy have moved Courtesy Motors after 30 years on Beach Road up to Holmes Hole Road. The list never ends.

Elliott Bonham Berz enjoyed his Christmas holiday with a visit from his paternal grandparents, George and Katherine Berz, and with Pam Glavin and Carl Widdiss.

Get well wishes to Kathie Case, who underwent orthopedic surgery at Falmouth Hospital on Monday.

Thad and Cassandra Hyland and their daughters, Eleanor and Genevieve, were at their brightly decorated Aquinnah home over the holidays. Eleanor and Genevieve recently participated in the Nutcracker once again. Thad has enjoyed the week away from his duties as manager of the Harbor View Hotel.

Christopher Manning returned this week after spending the holiday and the past two weeks in Saginaw, Mich., with his Carroll side of the family.

Jyl Manning and her grandson, Robbie, returned home this week after a 10-day stay in Naples, Fla., as the guests of our middle sister, Judith Manning Milavsky, and her husband, Barry, and our nephew, Alexander. The weather was rather cool, one morning at 43 degrees. Their return trip home was rather harrowing, but thank you to John and Rita Klingensmith of Edgartown for assisting them on the last leg of their journey. Upon their return, they enjoyed time in Aquinnah with yours truly.

Noah James Manning returned home on Monday evening after spending the week with his maternal grandparents, Bill and Joan Kistner, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He enjoyed many holiday celebrations with his extended family and especially building a snowman with his cousin Bill. Noah was accompanied on his journey with his parents, Paul and Theresa.

Jerry Wiener and Carolyn Feltz have returned after spending the holiday in New Jersey with their family. They were joined by their son, Jesse, and his wife, Maggie, who traveled during the blizzard from their home in Manhattan.

Seth and Megan Woods and their family were at their Aquinnah home to welcome in the New Year.

This has been a very sad week for many families, and my condolences to them and their extended family and friends. They have each been a part of my life in some respect over the past half-century as parents of my classmates, fellow schoolmates, former coworkers and multigenerational family friends, and thus I note their passing: Anita Labell Ciancio, Olive Dolby, Alice Lopez, Russell Lunn, Patricia Mello, Barbara Flanders Seward, Dorothy Allen Larsen Tripp, and Helen Benefit White.

Happy Birthday wishes this week to Sonya Mayrand on Jan. 8. Ann Burt celebrates on Jan. 9. Gloria Fisk will party on Jan. 11. Priscilla Belain, Caleb Hallett, Pam Glavin and Gordon Perry will all share the day on Jan. 12. Genevieve Rogers will observe her special day on Jan. 13, as will Edie Baker at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital switchboard. Brian Athearn and Marilyn Manning share the day on Jan. 13. Megan Woods will party on Jan. 14.