JUNE D. MANNING
508-645-2574
The Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force sponsored an evening with Katie LeClerc Greer on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at the Martha’s Vineyard YMCA. Thank you to youth task force coordinators Theresa Manning and Jamie Vanderhoop and the task force for their presentation, the first in a series of the 2011 parent lecture series. Miss Greer’s talk was titled How Can We Keep Our Kids Safe in This Technology-Driven World?
The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living will present the second in a series of cultural luncheons on Saturday, Jan. 29 from noon to 2 p.m. with chef Anthony Saccoccia and his staff at The Grill on Main in Edgartown. While ushering in the month of February as black history month, the cultural luncheon will feature a presentation by Carrie Tankard and Elaine Weintraub, the cofounders of the African American Heritage Trail on Martha’s Vineyard as well as Thomas Dresser, author of the book African Americans of Martha’s Vineyard. Toby Danger Riseborough and Rykerr Le Maynard, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School students and members of the Minnesingers, will perform spiritual songs during the luncheon. Tickets will be $25 and are available from board members across the Vineyard or by calling director Leslie Clapp at 508-939-9440.
The Community Baptist Church of Gay Head will have a potluck luncheon on Saturday, Jan. 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Totem Pole Inn to discuss the future of the church and the selection process for a permanent minister. Church members and congregants are encouraged to attend to voice your recommendations. For further information, please call Grace and Barry Reeves at 508-645-2976.
The Oak Bluffs rescue truck is sponsoring a benefit dinner for Kenny Ponte on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Portuguese-American Club on Vineyard avenue. Kenny has end-stage renal disease and needs a kidney transplant. Tickets are $12 per adult and $6 per child. For further information or to purchase a ticket, please call 508-939-0370 to support Kenny, his wife, Erica, and their young family with Hunter, Shelby and Jake.
Thank you to Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg for their kindness and generosity in celebrating the New Year with the Vineyard Gazette staff and family on Friday evening. We all enjoyed a grand evening of fellowship and dining at the Dr. Daniel Fisher house, with dinner prepared by the culinary arts students of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. It was certainly wonderful to be together for the evening, especially for the correspondents who are not amidst everyone in the office each day. Editor Julia Wells presented the Kohlbergs with a framed copy of their first front page as the Vineyard Gazette owners. In return, Mrs. Kohlberg noted their pleasure in being with everyone for the evening and to the continued friendship with all. Of course, Jane Slater and I enjoy our travels together to these celebrations to confer with each other on the news at the western end of the Vineyard.
Condolences to the family and friends of William (Bink) deBettencourt, who died on Jan. 13 with services held over the weekend.
Get well wishes to Patricia Madeiras, who underwent surgery one week ago at Beth Israel Hospital. For now, she will require more than a month of recuperation while being cared for by her daughter, Heather.
Congratulations to Frank Perez and his bride, Melanie, on their wedding Dec. 27 in Falmouth. For now, they are residing at the Totem Pole Inn. Frank is the son of David and Alicia Giles. Welcome to Melanie and her family. She has already started her position with Dr. Ramiri at Paradise Dental in Tisbury. Frank is a fisherman and assistant with Giles Landscaping.
Condolences to the family and friends of Martin Scher, who died recently. He was a longtime summer resident of Aquinnah.
Richard Skidmore will be the new chairman of the Aquinnah housing committee following his nomination at the December 2010 meeting. Derrill Bazzy passed the gavel on to Richard at the committee meeting on Jan. 11 with a smooth transition as Richard has been a member of the committee for the past six years. No need for a gavel, though, as in the 12 years of the existence of the committee there was only one real vote and that was in the past year. The longtime members of the committee have unanimously agreed to their decisions by consensus. We are looking for a few new members to serve on the committee.
Noli Taylor was the keynote speaker at the first meeting of the year for the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club on Jan. 18. Noli discussed the Island Grown Schools program which has become very popular.
Independent filmmakers Liz Witham and her husband, Ken Wentworth, of Film Truth Productions talk about their creative lives in the off-season in the latest issue of Martha’s Vineyard Magazine. Wintertime to them is a wonderful time to “sink their teeth into their research projects.”
Sincerest condolences to Marna Waller and her daughter, Robin, in the loss of her mother, Esther Waller, who died on Tuesday at Windemere. Mrs. Waller is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Many of us will remember Mrs. Waller who worked at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in the 1960s.
So far the weather prognosticators have been way off on their reports over the past month. Once again, we have had very little snow in Aquinnah while friends in other parts of the commonwealth are experiencing one to two feet of snow. What had been predicted over this past week was another mere two to three inches of snow and a lot of slush. Less than 10 weeks of winter left.
Perhaps it was an omen when Molly Purves and I were discussing news in Aquinnah two weeks ago and I told her there was none that I really knew of. However, it probably jinxed me as I did have a lot of news to report, e-mailed it to the Vineyard Gazette office on Wednesday evening, but due to the fact that I am totally technologically challenged, I copied the document but forgot to paste it. Everyone was looking for me on Thursday morning while I attended a meeting in Vineyard Haven and then proceeded to do a lot of research for the day and attend another meeting that evening. Needless to say, it was too late when I arrived home at 10 p.m. and found all kinds of messages by telephone, e-mail, and Facebook — so much for technology.
Belated happy birthday wishes to Maeve Q. Sheehan, who celebrated her fourth birthday on Jan. 5. Maeve is the daughter of Jeffie Butler and Kevin Sheehan and the granddaughter of Mallory and Lenny Butler.
Belated happy birthday wishes to David J. Duarte who celebrated a major milestone earlier this month and with the best gift of all — a vacation for his wife, Ginger.
Happy birthday belated birthday wishes this week to Jocko McCarthy, who celebrated on Jan. 14. Carol Mayrand, Faith Vanderhoop, and Butch Downs all shared the day on Jan. 15. Tom Murphy, Chester Cook, and Derrick Mays shared the day on Jan. 16.
Wendy Benedetto, activities director for the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living celebrated her special day on Jan. 17. Jesse Wiener partied on Jan. 18. Anthony Vanderhoop is now 12 years old and partied on Jan. 19 while sharing the day with Marcia Rogers Valentzas, Abbie Steele, Ruth Major and Carrie Anne Vanderhoop Bellis. Capt. Gordon (Todd) Bassett celebrated on Jan. 20.
Mark Owen Shea, son of Ryan and Rachel Cottle Shea, and grandson of Mark and Susan Lana Shea as well as Edmund Cottle Jr. and Deborah Pelow Raymond, and great-grandson of Edmund Cottle and Elizabeth Gale Cottle, celebrated his first birthday on Jan. 20 amidst his rather large extended family and his many friends.
Gloria Scher, Samantha Greene, Catherine Deese and Noah Casner will all celebrate today. Ben Taylor will party on Jan. 22. Shaun MacPhail will observe a major milestone on Jan. 23. Clarence (Al) Clark will party on Jan. 24 — just back from another trip to China. Edith Andrews will celebrate her special day on Jan. 26 as will Ed Belain Jr. As you stop by the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, please wish Eliza Usher a happy birthday as she will observe a major milestone on Jan. 27.
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