KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

I think we are all still talking about Saturday’s thunderstorm. I don’t remember a storm like that ever. Things were knocked out and some of our electronics are still being repaired. But everyone is okay, and that is what counts.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Abigail Lively, who celebrated July 23, Natalie Wallace, July 24, Jacob Cardoza, July 25, Auguste Pizzano, July 27, Zachary Patnaude, July 28, and Michael O’Brien, who celebrates his day today, July 29.

Special wishes go to Haley Kraus, who celebrated her 18th birthday on July 27.

I can’t believe that it is the end of July. I have heard some college kids saying they only have another week or two before they head back to school. Things are going very fast with still many activities ahead of us.

The 28th Community Solar Greenhouse David Crohan Top Hat Concert will be Sunday, August 7, at 4:30 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown. David will be performing with Jenny Friedman. A potluck reception follows. Admission is $25 per person. The money raised will benefit the Top Hat Fund (a new roof for the greenhouse).

The Annual Rotary Pancake Breakfast — it is their 20th anniversary! — is on Sunday, August 7 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Anchors, across from Memorial Wharf. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for kids. All-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice and coffee! This is a big fundraiser; the Rotary Club donates their monies to many Island charities and organizations, including the Vineyard Food Pantry, Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Windemere, and many more. This year, they were able to send eight regional high school students to a Rotary Leadership Conference on the Cape. It’s an amazing experience for the students, who will hopefully use their newfound skills in many areas of their lives.

The fifth Annual Federated Church House Tour will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 9. This year, four beautiful and historic homes are included in the tour, all within two blocks of the meetinghouse, and they have added the expertise of Edgartown historian Mary Jane Carpenter, who will speak about the houses and the 1828 Federated Meetinghouse before the tour starts. Also added this year, for those who would like to extend this lovely day, is a boxed luncheon to be served on the lawn of the Mayhew Parsonage on beautiful Edgartown harbor.

Tickets are available on the day of the tour starting at 11:45 a.m. in the courtyard of the meetinghouse. The luncheon starts at noon, the lecture will be at 1:30 in the meetinghouse and the tour will be from 2 to 4:30. The cost for the luncheon, lecture and tour is $60. Lecture and tour only is $35. For reservations for luncheon, please e-mail voses@verizon.net.

Monday, August 1, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services will host their annual fundraiser, the Possible Dreams Auction. This year a number of new dreams have been added; notable personalities, including famed comedian Tim Conway, Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning director/playwright James Lapine and Celtics head coach Doc Rivers will be featured in dreams. The auction takes place beneath a huge tent in Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. Gates open at 4 p.m.; the festivities will kick off with music by the Beetlebung Steel Band, followed by a song from the critically acclaimed 13-year-old local songstress Darby Patterson. Bidding begins promptly at 5 p.m. The reservations-only celebration dinner following the auction will feature food by Jaime Hamlin, dessert by Cakes by Liz and Chilmark Chocolates and music by Joanne Cassidy and Wes Nagy. Many of the successful bidders and donors will be in attendance.

This past Sunday Ralph and I went to Katama to get some littlenecks to do clams casino plus maybe littlenecks on the half shell which is my particular favorite.

I have to say we had a good time. We went to the flats from the Katama landing which was different for me as we are usually on the beach and walk out, so we met up with some different people which was great. We were there awhile, but got enough to satisfy our taste buds.

Have a great week, and keep the home candles burning.