JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Thank you to Cam Neely for bringing the Stanley Cup to Aquinnah on August 10 which was a delight. Many photographs were taken of, and with, the most-coveted Stanley Cup. Cam Neely, president of the Boston Bruins, is a former member of the Bruins team, and is known for his Cam Neely Foundation which supports housing for cancer patients at Tufts Medical Center.

Welcome to President Barack Obama and the First Family as they arrive this week for their third Vineyard vacation in Chilmark. I anticipate seeing them around somewhere this year. May they rest and enjoy themselves, and indulge in what the Vineyard truly has to offer.

It is definitely a different era and I have many fond memories of waiting at the airport during the Clinton administration, whether they were arriving or departing. It was always such a very special time for many of us to wait hours, shake their hands, and to take photographs.

All the volunteering I did in 1998 delivering meals to the Secret Service at the compound and enduring six checkpoints each morning and afternoon, certainly did not pay off while I was at Harvard University in May. Not one of them came to my rescue during my horrific fall!

Today at the Aquinnah Cultural Center, Elizabeth Perry will demonstrate how to make a cedar bark mat and explain how they were utilized. On Wednesday, August 24, Around the World: Aquinnah Whaling in the 19th Century will be the topic at 6 p.m. Enjoy this discussion and powerpoint presentation by University of Connecticut professor Nancy Shoemaker. Admission will be $7 for each event. Geraldine Brooks will have a roundtable discussion with Linda Coombs about her book, Caleb’s Crossing, on August 31 at 6 p.m.

Marty Nadler will perform on Thursday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center in his only August performance on the Vineyard. His Vineyard 2011 comedy hour is not to be missed.

Judy Mayhew has let us all know the Chilmark Church is still selling lobster rolls on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the church. Judy will assist you with your order to take home or for a picnic on the front lawn of the church.

All roads will lead to the fair over the weekend. Enjoy the 150th year of the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair and the true spirit of the event and its impressive history. The creativity in the barn is amazing and one wonders how you could ever improve over the previous year but it happens, especially with the quilts, the knitted items, artwork and photographs, flowers, vegetables and plants in abundance, all the baked goods you wished you could try, the canned fruits and vegetables, and the sight of the ribbons at the end of the day.

The Oak Bluffs Firemen’s Civic Association will have their display of fireworks tonight at 9 p.m. Your support of this worthwhile organization is greatly needed.

Colleen Morris informed me that Dr. Chester P. Soliz will present his personal historical perspective of the evolution of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe at the Oak Bluffs library on Wednesday, August 24 at 2 p.m.. Dr. Soliz, a Mashpee Tribal Elder, will discuss the history of his tribe and will follow with a book signing.

Helen Gorenstein will be the guest speaker on Tuesday, August 23 from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at the Aquinnah Public Library with a poetry reading, Portrait of Reading Woman, in Recollection and Tricks of Memory. Refreshments will follow. Joyce Maxner returns to the Aquinnah Public Library on Thursday, August 25 from 3 to 4 p.m. with Music Together, a great program for children and their adult companions.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Preston Averill Sr., who passed away at his home over the weekend. Preston was a multi-generational family friend. We looked forward to his deliveries at Manning’s during the summer season and especially his sense of humor and wisdom.

Get well wishes to Eloise Moreis Boales who recently underwent surgery at Falmouth Hospital. Before we know it, she will be directing traffic at the Steamship dock once again.

Raymond Dineen, grandson of Walter and Nancy Delaney, recently returned from a European tour to Prague, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria with the New England Conservatory (NEC) Youth Philharmonic under the direction of maestro Benjamin Zander (conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and Mahler specialist.)The maestro refers to the 10-day tour as a Mahler pilgrimage in honor of the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death, with the NECYP traveling to sites of significance in Mahler’s life, concluding with a SRO concert at Vienna’s Musikverein. Zander led the young musicians in an ardent and accomplished performance of, Mahler’s Ninth, one that thrilled the audience to reward the performers with a standing ovation. There have been lots of special doings for Ray this year: He was inducted into the National Honor Society this spring and celebrated his 17th birthday on July 20th! He is the son of Andrew and Gayle Dineen and often visits his grandparents at their Aquinnah home.

Condolences to the family and friends of Alice Feltz, who passed away on August 6 in New Jersey. She was the mother of Carolyn Feltz of Aquinnah and Janice Feltz of West Tisbury and their siblings She is survived by her husband, John, her son in law, Jerry Wiener, and grandson, Jesse Wiener, and his wife, Maggie, as well as many family members in New Jersey. She enjoyed her visits to Aquinnah and was supportive of Jesse and his accomplishments over the years and his many performances.

Condolences to the family and friends of Hermie Hubert, who passed away on Dec. 19, 2010 in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Hermie was the widow of James Hubert. She had at one time served as a nurse at Harlem Hospital in her earlier years. James and Hermie honeymooned at their Gay Head home across the way in 1947 and returned every summer with their children, James and Janice. James Hubert Jr. is now a Superior Court judge for Westchester County, presiding in White Plains. James Jr. and his wife, Jody Queen, are the parents of Andrea and Jonathan. Janice devotedly cared for her mother at their Mount Vernon home for the past 10 years. A memorial service was held at the North Cemetery on Saturday with a gathering at the family compound following the service.

Get well wishes to Ted Leslie, who was transferred from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to Massachusetts General Hospital on Friday. It is anticipated that he will be home before the weekend. His wife, Kristina Kestenbaum Leslie, is with him during his hospitalization. They have recently enjoyed the company of her daughter, Jennifer Staples, and her husband, Douglas, and grandchildren, eight-year-old Max and five-year-old Charlie of Los Angeles. Grandson Darrius Lewis returned to Philadelphia on Thursday after spending the summer with his grandparents.

Noah James Manning returned home on August 2 after spending 12 amazing days in California. His trip started with a return to San Diego and his third trip to Lego Land. Next it was off to Anaheim where his mom, Theresa Kistner Manning, attended a conference, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, as a coordinator for the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force. While Theresa attended meetings, Noah and his dad, Paul, went to Disneyland. Then to Hollywood to the Hard Rock Café, a live Jimmy Kimmel outdoor show, the grand Hollywood sign, and a visit with his great-grandaunt June. They traveled along the coast to San Jose and a long weekend with Theresa’s brother, Dan Kistner, his sons, Shane and Ryan, grandson Nolin and his mom, Jessica. A visit to San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, Ghiardelli Chocolates, Fishermen’s Wharf, and the cable cars. They all enjoyed the Monterey Aquarium. Back to reality and home, the Stanley Cup, birthday parties over the weekend, collecting pins from Johnny Cupcake, Cinema Circus, Menemsha Beach, Over South Antiques, the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market, and final days of his day care at Mandy Tomkins before heading to kindergarten in a few weeks but not before the fair and fireworks.

Dr. Frederic Meyer and his family have returned to Minnesota following their annual visit with his mother, Charlotte Meyer. Little did I know, Dr. Meyer, who is on the staff at the Mayo Clinic, has written extensively on endarterectomies.

Ronald and Joanne Spears arrived Sunday with ten of their grandchildren for their annual week of camp grandma at the home of Woody and Jamie Vanderhoop. Needless to say, they were kept very busy with activities during their stay.

Durwood and Jamie Vanderhoop returned home on Sunday after attending the deployment ceremony of her brother, Ronald B. Spears Jr., who is with the 126th Battalion of the Air National Guard and will leave for Iraq on Aug 28 for his first tour.

Lisa Bibko Vanderhoop is proud to announce that her 2012 Vineyard Seadogs calendar is on the shelves of Alley’s, Aquinnah Shop, Bunch of Grapes, and many other stores across the Vineyard. On the front cover this year is Ensign, of the Relemar.

Condolences to the family and friends of Sumner Yaffe, father of Steve Yaffe of Aquinnah and Ian Yaffee of Menemsha and Maine and their siblings.

Thank you to Dr. Glenn LaMuraglia, Dr. Timothy Guiney, Dr. Michael Jaff, and Dr. Peter Laursen for their exceptional medical care, professionalism, and especially their reassurance. One of my postoperative nurses, Amy, remarked on how fortunate I was to have the team of physicians I had caring for me. Of course I did, and we left it at that with a smile. I returned home this past week following further vascular surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Thank you to Paul, Theresa and Noah for their care pre and postoperatively. Thank you to all for the cards, e-mails, Facebook messages, flowers, bouquets of fresh vegetables, and telephone calls — you have all enriched my life and been a significant part of my healing. My Vineyard Gazette family sent the most abundant basket of mums one would enjoy for a long time. Thank you one and all. I am blessed.

Happy anniversary wishes to Peter and Teresa Temple as they celebrate on August 22.

Happy 44th anniversary wishes to Barry and Grace Reeves as they celebrate on August 25.

Belated happy birthday wishes to Isabelle Lumb, who celebrated her fifteenth birthday on August 16.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Mildred Mayhew on August 20. Barbara Bassett and Wendy Swolinsky share the day on Saturday. Cheryl Batzer will party on August 21. Teresa Temple, Cera Garvin and Giles Welch all share the day on August 22. Virginia Hall, Seth Woods, Tricia Mulligan, Wilde Whitcomb, Noli Taylor, and Leonard Vanderhoop all share the day on August 23. Linda Coombs and Moshup Galbraith will party on August 24. A very special happy birthday wish to Garth W. Edwards as he observes his special day on August 25. Barry Reeves will party on August 25. Chef extraordinaire Daphne Lewis will observe her special day on August 26 and shares the day with Marilyn Maciel.