JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

The Chilmark School will have their annual Caribbean Night on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. Join in the fun with music by the Smokin’ Flamingos. Tickets are $15 and include beverages and desserts. Enjoy the silent and live auctions as well as raffles. A few of the exciting items include a fishing charter with Captain Jennifer Clarke, boat tour of the Elizabeth Islands, a stay at the Captain Flanders House, books, jewelry, handmade items, scallops, Vineyard-raised meats, artwork and more. Any donations may be dropped off to Katie Carroll at Menemsha Texaco before Saturday afternoon. Fund-raising efforts will provide for a week of school at sea aboard the Alabama or the Shenandoah, guest speakers, theatre programs and amazing field trips.

Aquinnah artisan Joan LeLacheur will feature her exquisite wampum jewelry and home decorations over the weekend at the Allen Farm on South Road in Chilmark. Her sale will be open today through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nice Valentine Day gifts.

Aquinnah photographer and calendar maker Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop has her sentimental Valentine cards and prints available at the Bank of Martha’s Vineyard at Beetlebung Corner. Lisa’s Vineyard Seadogs calendar is at a special rate while at the bank. Stop by on your way to Chilmark Chocolates today; it is open with Valentine’s Day treats.

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School students will perform Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka for their musical this year. It is only fitting, as their teacher/director Katherine Poole Murray was a part of Willy Wonka when she was in fourth grade in Ann Hollister’s class in Edgartown. Tickets will be $10 at the door, $7 for students and seniors. Performances will be held at the school’s performing arts center on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 17 and 18, at 7 p.m., and on Saturday Feb. 19 with a matinee at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.

The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living has an ongoing raffle; tickets are $5 each, six for $25, or a book of 12 for $50. Winners will have a choice between two pairs of wampum earrings by Joan LeLacheur, an airplane tour around the Vineyard with pilot David Stein, a handcrafted floral bag by Sylvie, autographed books by Catherine Walthers with photographs by Alison Shaw, and a serene fishing shack watercolor by artist Joseph Palermo. Buy your tickets from Karen Achille, Ellie Bates, Olga Church, Chuck Cotnoir, Shirley Dewing, Ginger Duarte, Barbara Harnen, Diane Jetmund, Nancy Shemeth and yours truly, or from MVC4L director Leslie Clapp at the Anchors in Edgartown.

The Aquinnah Public Library is having a great response to their bottle drive. Just a reminder that clean and neatly boxed deposit bottles and cans may be left at the Aquinnah landfill drop off each Sunday and Thursday through the end of March. Funds will be matched by the Libri Foundation for up to $350 for the purchase of new children’s books. Thank you to Steve and Amanda Hutchinson, the volunteers organizing the campaign.

Corduroy, the storybook bear, will visit with the children at the Aquinnah Library on Thursday, Feb. 17 from 4 to 5 p.m. Listen to his stories and enjoy his bear hugs.

Members of Community Baptist Church of Gay Head will meet on Saturday, Feb. 12 to discuss the ongoing search for a new minister. A potluck luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to noon at the Totem Pole. Following lunch, members will meet with Rev. Ellen Tatreau and with members of TABCOM. Also, a reminder about the meeting on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Totem Pole to continue the bylaw revisions.

The Cape Cod Maritime Museum in Hyannis will feature a display of Wampanoag Maritime Art: Traditional and Contemporary in a show that runs from today through May 22. Thank you to Linda Jeffers Coombs for her assistance as curator of the Aquinnah Wampanoag art in providing the work of the late Norman W. Smalley, who was a fisherman and a scrimshander and the work of the late David F. Vanderhoop, who painted with oils. Works by the late Grover O. Ryan, who was not only a housepainter but also a landscape and maritime artist in oils, are also included. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays noon to 4 p.m.

Welcome to Ivan Vanderhoop, son of Todd Vanderhoop and Amera Ignacio. Ivan was born on Jan. 25 at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the grandson of Erick Vanderhoop of Aquinnah and Patti Young of Edgartown as well as Bruce and Adriana Ignacio of Aquinnah and Fort Duchesne, Utah. Ivan is also the great-grandson of Anne Vanderhoop Madison.

Condolences to the family and friends of Martin “Mugsy” Morris, who passed away on Jan. 30 with services held at the National Cemetery in Bourne this past weekend. Mugsy was a fellow fisherman of the Manning family and enjoyed swordfishing aboard the Bozo.

Condolences to the family and friends of Arthur Strople, who passed away recently in Florida.

Still no snow on the ground in Aquinnah. Witch hazel already has started to bloom with buds on many branches. Temperatures have ranged from 49 degrees at midnight one night this week to 2 degrees at midnight on Tuesday. Wind gusts were up to 46 mph, rearranging the landscape especially on Tuesday.

Happy 11th anniversary wishes to Jim and Eloise Moreis Boales as they celebrate their special day on Feb. 12.

Happy birthday wishes to Martha’s Vineyard Magazine editor Nicki McHugh Miller. Nicki deserves a wonderful fashion shopping spree for her special day on Feb. 12. I am sure her husband, Jim Miller, has just that gift in mind.

Happy birthday wishes to Leona Smith White as she celebrates her special day on Feb. 12. Aquinnah photographer extraordinaire Albert O. Fischer III will celebrate on Feb. 13 and shares the day with Michael Washington. Heather Vanderhoop will party on Feb. 14.

Fellow Vineyard Gazette up-Island correspondent and confidante Jane Slater will celebrate her special day on Feb. 15. A very special birthday wish for granddaughter Kayla Manning as she celebrates a major milestone. Karen Child, Fred Thifault and Trina Kingsbury all share the day on Feb. 15.

Douglas Fortes, Brenda Johnson and Ed Conroy all share the day on Feb. 16. Linda Hobbs and John Robey will party on Feb. 18.