JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living would like to thank one and all for another successful cultural luncheon at the Grill on Main on Jan. 29. Thank you to Chef Tony Saccoccia and his staff for hosting us and a most delicious luncheon. Keynote speakers included Carrie Tankard, Elaine Weintraub and Tom Dresser, who spoke on the contributions and influence of the African American community on Martha’s Vineyard.

Special guests of president Diane Jetmund included Woollcott Smith and his wife, Leah. Woollcott had the misfortune of spending 60 days in jail during the civil rights movement defending the rights of African Americans.

Music was performed by Toby Riseborough and Rykerr Maynard, seniors at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and Minnesingers who were “honored to perform as they both enjoy singing.” Little did Toby know, his grandparents, Toby and Lucille Dorsey, were remembered during the afternoon for their contributions as a part of the cofounders of the NAACP of Martha’s Vineyard in 1963. Thank you to Harry Seymour for lending one of his paintings with a beach scene for advertising the luncheon.

Floral bouquets by Ellen O’Brien were once again given to those who sat in specially marked seats. A few special guests who joined us were David Duarte and Lolita Campbell, Patricia Johnson, Christina Brown, Jackie Hunt, Corrine Dorsey, Judith Hathaway and Jane Keenan.

To teach more about the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living, president Diane Jetmund was recently interviewed by Ann Bassett for MVTV which may be viewed on television or on your personal computer by entering mvtv.org, video on demand, and then the schedule.

The following luncheons will be upcoming: March will feature the Portuguese community, April, the Jewish community, and May, the women of whaling.

I am refreshed from my staycation. By definition, we stayed on the Vineyard and vacationed. Ten members of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Class of 1964 gathered on Saturday afternoon at the Mansion House, we then proceeded to dinner at the Grill on Main, and then back to the Mansion House for their special January rate for the night. Those attending included Wendy Andrews, Shirley Medeiros Donaroma, Kathy Luce Duys, Judith Swartz Jardin, Bertha Viera Madeiras, Carol Magee, Pamela Brown Martisauskas, Eleanor Fischer Neubert, Judith Frank Vunk, and yours truly. In the afternoon we were joined by Barbara Thomas Murphy. We spent the evening solving the issues of the world and the Vineyard and following our brunch on Sunday morning, we left the world a little more pleasant than the day before by solving a few issues. Our fellow classmates will look forward to future events and of course the planning leading up to our 50th class reunion in a few years.

One of the issues we could not remedy was the weather and the predications are still way off base for the Vineyard each time a storm passes by. That is okay, we will accept what we have — a few flurries, a little ice under foot, and on occasion freezing temperatures but it sure is much better than the two to four feet of snow many of our friends have experienced and are still trying to dig out with no place to put the snow. They may as well just wait until the spring thaw as Basil Welch always notes and therefore when spring arrives in 44 days it will all be melted.

Chilmark Chocolates has reopened. It is never too early to stop by and get your Valentine’s candy for the big day.

The Aquinnah Public Library will feature library assistant Emma Young on Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to teach bookbinding. A small fee will be charged for supplies. On Saturday mornings, please stop in for a hot beverage before you begin your day and to meet up with your neighbors during the coffee hour. There is an ongoing sale of books, DVDs and videos, so please see if there is anything there that may be of interest to you for a nominal fee.

The Martha’s Vineyard Chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists will hold their first meeting of the year on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Family History Center in Vineyard Haven. Those just beginning their family history and genealogies are welcome to join. Dues are $25 for the calendar year, with special rates for family members. Members who are intermediate will be of great assistance to you throughout your journey to offer guidance and support. A speaker is featured each meeting to discuss their genealogy, history, a book, cultural studies, or other fascinating subjects.

A special thought for this week: It was 60 years ago this week that the town of Gay Head received electricity, the last town in the commonwealth of Massachusetts to be electrified. Thank you to our ancestors and especially those who served with the Aquinnah Club for their perseverance in raising funds and providing for the future of our community. Only about a dozen of us residents of Aquinnah at the present time remember the experiences we had prior to electricity. If only our descendants could even understand what it was like around here without a light switch to turn on, no television and a year later when we did get television it was black and white only, laundry was done by hand, we had never even dreamed of computers, Internet, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and all the conveniences of daily life that we now enjoy.

Today is National Wear Red Day to promote heart health for women. So to my fellow cardiac friends — wear red!

Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop will have a show of her work at the Bank of Martha’s Vineyard at Beetlebung Corner beginning today and over the next few weeks. Lisa will, of course, have her world-renowned Vineyard Seadogs calendar at a reduced rate, as well as her cards and prints with a Valentine theme. Please stop by to purchase her work during the month.

Happy first anniversary wishes to Judd Fuller and his bride, Dana Radford, as they celebrate their special day on Feb. 8.

Happy birthday wishes to Blair Hill and Mavis Camillo as they celebrate on Feb. 5. Spencer Booker will celebrate a major milestone on Feb. 6 as he returns to his post at Alley’s General Store after a three-month leave of absence. Hellie Neumann parties on Feb. 7. Aquinnah selectman Jim Newman parties on Feb. 8 and shares the day with tribal chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais. Ezra Newick will celebrate on Feb. 11.