NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Marge and Paul Howes hosted a lovely party Wednesday night in honor of my mother Iole’s arrival on Island, Wanda Marotta’s departure for a brief few weeks, and my birthday. The usual suspects were in attendance: Mike Cook, Iole, Wanda, Laurie Marotta, Jim Hart, Wes Stokes and Julia Kovack. We feasted on shrimp, chicken salad, brie, and other delicacies. They all sang happy birthday. We had also gathered to view a DVD sent by Chris Paffendorf, now of Los Lunas but formerly of Lenny’s Loop. Chris has taken up ukelele lessons and was in a concert. Unfortunately, the merriment was so overwhelming we postponed the viewing for yet another party date. Thank you, kind friends.

Jim Hart had the presence of mind to bring some tickets for the 20th Annual Rotary Club all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast to be held Sunday, August 7 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Anchors in Edgartown. As Iole has never witnessed this spectacular event we promptly purchased two tickets. The Rotary uses this fundraiser to support the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the Food Pantry, Windemere, and many other worthy causes. I’ll see you there.

Another exciting Sunday event will be the book festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. Authors include local favorites and those travelling from off-Island to read. The ArtCliff Diner will provide the food truck for refreshments. Among the many authors reading will be West Chop’s Amor Towles, debuting his first novel, Rules of Civility. By the way, check this month’s O Magazine, page 103, for Lisa Bernbach’s flattering review of Amor’s first book. Also present will be my personal favorite, Linda Fairstein, Pulitzer Prize-winner Siddhartha Mukherjee, Alexandra Styron, Ward Just, and many others. I’ll see you there after the pancake breakfast.

Louisa Gould always throws a great party. The reception from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow, August 6, at 54 Main street is the opening of Summer Essence. Just a few of the terrific artists on view will be Ellen Liman, Jeffrey P’an, Rachel Paxton, and John Holladay. Wes Nagy will provide the music. Refreshments? Of course.

The Shaw Cramer Gallery just next door features the tapestries of Julia Mitchell from August 9 on.

Summer on the Vineyard is all about the arts. You are invited to Featherstone’s 15th birthday bash tomorrow from 3 to 8 p.m. There will be free birthday cake, refreshments, poetry, photography, tours, exhibits, introductions to you newbies of the great work that goes on there all year long. Featherstone is also hosting an opening reception on Thursday, August 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. of my dear friend Gail Becker’s monoprints. Regular hours for viewing shows at Featherstone are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. Call 508-693-1850 if you need further details. I’ll see you there.

Iole and I had lobster rolls once again at my Legion Hall Post 257 Tuesday night. The hours are 4:30 to 7 p.m. so you may stop there, and then find us next Tuesday at our library at 7 p.m. for the free evening lecture series program. Tuesday’s presentation will be by Massoud Kohistani, My Round Trip from Afghanistan to the USA and My Struggle to Return. Fascinating. Apparently his first stop in the US was our Island!

Meanwhile, ACE is presenting a free event at the Howes House in West Tisbury tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Forgiveness of the unforgivable, the author of God Sleeps in Rwanda will speak. Call 774-310-1131 or visit acemv.org for more information.

Tuesday, August 9 is a big day for activities. Our library has Joyce Maxner playing songs and singing with the infant to two-year-olds at 10 a.m., then entertaining the three to five set at 11 a.m. The Federated Church in Edgartown is holding its annual house tour. Tickets are available the day of the tour at the Meetinghouse at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon is at noon, the lecture at the Meetinghouse is at 1:30 p.m. and the house tour runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. You may attend all these events or some of them. Reserve your seat at voses@verizon.net.

Don’t miss Thursday, August 11 at our library at 3:30 p.m. for ages five and up — parents too! — to see the Cape Cod African Dance and Drum ensemble perform. Bring your small house guests.

Our sympathy goes out to Chris Paffendorf on the death of her beloved Maybelline. Maybelline was a loyal, loving, feline companion for 17 years. She lived on the Vineyard for quite a while, but traveled with Chris constantly to New York, New Jersey, and finally, on the move to New Mexico. She will be sorely missed.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Chris and Lilly Clark today, their fifth wedding anniversary. August 6 is for Ken and Mildred Davis Brown. August 8 honors David Gardella and Liz Figueroa.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Alicia Maciel, Tommer Willems, Susan Klein, Janet Alley, and Jen Kaufman today. August 7 belongs to Arlinda Graves, Travis Baptiste, Leslie Hunter, Sandie Corr-Dolby, and Luisa Tassiana. August 8 is claimed by Michael Robinson, Milly Berman, and Danae Finley. August 9 shines on Sal Alfano, Vitor Mouzinho, and Riley Chalifoux. August 10 is for Jennifer Benson. And on August 11 Linda Carroll and Clare Ann Harrington take the cake. Many happy returns.