Kathie Case>

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

Mother Nature showed us who was boss on Monday as she sent snow showers our way. I don’t think there was one person who did not say, “Snow, are you kidding me?” Now the temperatures are going to be in the 60’s this weekend. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Emily McKeon who celebrated her day March 13; Nils Aldeborgh and Brenda DeOliveira share March 15; Christopher Cartier partied on March 16; Austin Chandler and Lillian Kurelja celebrated their day March 17; and to Daniel Nelson and Sarah Taylor who take the cake today March 18.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. But a special one goes out to Nelson and Anne Smith who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Here is to a great celebration and to many more years together.

I think the biggest news and holiday of the week was Wednesday when the Dairy Queen opened. First of all school only had a half day, people planned to have lunch there, and of course there are the people waiting to get their treats after work. So, needless to say it was a busy day. I went by just about when school let out and there were kids walking down the bike path with their treats and then there were those who were still standing on the ramp outside, in the rain, waiting for their turn.

Lilly Kurelja is celebrating her birthday on St. Patrick’s Day by going with her mom and sister Anna to see Mary Poppins in Boston, but Lilly was going to miss her class field trip to the DQ on that day, so her mother had a better idea and bought a DQ cake the day before and took it to the school for the whole class to share. What a great treat and what a thoughtful mom Collette is.

The Adult and Community Education Program (ACE MV) and the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore are cosponsoring readings by favorite Island authors and educators. Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven is hosting the free event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 where authors will be sharing a unique glimpse at new works in progress. Authors include: John Hough Jr. (Seen the Glory and The Last Summer), Susan Klein (Through a Ruby Window and Martha’s Vineyard: Now & Zen), Nancy Aronie (Writing from the Heart); Cynthia Riggs (Touch-Me-Not and The Bee Balm Murders); Michael Ditchfield (A Very Minor Profit and Marlboro Patch), Nancy Gaffney (Prey for Closure and Another Way), Zelda Gamson (Google My Brain, and In My Grandfather’s Shoes), Susan Strane (Where is the River and A Whole-Souled Woman). Ron Dagostino as emcee will keep this talented group moving for an inspiring afternoon filled with new and current work and surely some surprises.

Jerry Fritz and the ecumenical youth group would like us to join them at Sharky’s Cantina this Sunday, March 20, for lunch or dinner or afternoon fare, pretty much anytime Sunday. Sharky’s is donating 15 per cent of all food purchases to the M.V. Ecumenical Youth Group for their June trip to help rebuild in Nashville! Yup, that’s right, 15 per cent of all food purchases goes to the group.

I saw Mike and Lynn Ditchfield at the Stop & Shop and they informed me they had just returned from Singapore. It seems their daughter Mara Ditchfield, who is studying film, is going to NYU in Singapore. They looked tired but both were very pleased to see their daughter.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.