NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

I don’t think my brothers will ever again allow me to have custody of our mother for summers on Martha’s Vineyard. Last Friday evening Iole and I went out to the Ocean View for a lovely dinner with Susan Woods. Jim Hart, master of ceremonies on Lenny’s Loop, had invited us to his house for cocktails after. It was his time of year to entertain nine of the nicest motorcycle men who annually stay with Jim and participate in the Run to the Rock. I have met these fabulous guys before, but Nonna never had. We stopped and chatted, admiring all the shiny black and chrome Harleys. The men are mostly firefighters and cops from the Boston area, a mix of the best of both worlds, Irish and Italian, so Iole was able to converse with some in her favorite language. As of this writing I do not have all their names but I do have a big story. Anyway, one thing led to another and after Iole had a cocktail one of the men offered her a ride on his new Harley, a three-wheeler.

So, the 94-year-old gets on the bike. One of the men went to fetch a helmet. “Oh, I have to wear a helmet?” my innocent mother asked, unaware of Massachusetts state laws. All the cellphones came out, the cameras were clicking, fast as I could I called our friends and neighbors on Lenny’s Loop and told them to get out on their decks and porches NOW, Nonna was going by on a Harley. As the couple went on a 20-minute ride around the Loop and down Franklin, we speculated on whether or not they were running away together. They pulled into Jim’s driveway, again there was much picture-taking and posing, Iole with a beer can on the Harley, alone, with her trusty helmet on. Iole pronounced the ride “exhilarating” and thanked the men profusely. Same time next year.

Ah, another exhilarating experience and yet another combination of the best of both worlds. Iole, Dr. Mareda Gaither-Graves, Cheyenne Cormier and I attended the presentation cosponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center and the NAACP of MV last Tuesday at the center. It was Joshua Nelson and his Kosher Gospel Singers. The program pointed out that it was “the marriage of Jewish religious lyrics and meanings with the soulful sound of American gospel music.” There was an overflow crowd, I saw many, many dear friends I never get to see, and the night was a raucous love fest. Joshua Nelson is the subject of the acclaimed documentary Keep on Walking. We sang, we clapped, we danced. I don’t think anyone wanted that evening to end. Special thanks to so many who made it possible including Rabbi Caryn Broitman, BeeBee Horowitz, Ron and Barsha Tolin, Sally Cohn, Max and Michelle Jasny. Same time next year!

Tomorrow you may pick up bargain bags, free gifts and discounted books at the monthly mini book sale at our library from 1 to 3 p.m. On Tuesday night in the program room see and hear Sue Guiney at 7 p.m. reading from her new book of poetry, Her Life Collected. On Wednesday night, also at 7 p.m., historian Richard Boylston will do a reenactment of American colonial history from 1750 to 1850, ending with 18th century music and a question and answer period. Richard became fascinated with history as he researched his own family’s arrival on the Mayflower. I’ll see you there.

Paul and Marge Howes just ended an eventful 10 days with daughter Julia, son in law Javier, and the ever-active grandkids, Aidan and Olivia. They went shopping, beaching, touring, clamming and crabbing. I miss them already.

Welcome back to Trude Hart, who just missed the motorcyle party. Trude has returned from Florida to the Hart compound on Lenny’s Loop.

Belated birthday wishes to Uta Kloss, who celebrated on August 15. Stop in Kennedy Studios, the Island Art Gallery, to wish her the best and see the exciting new prints, paintings, photos and framing choices on display.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jeff Pratt, Bill Clinton, Amanda Louise Bernard, Woody Woodward and Helen Szanto today. Tomorrow is shared by Rick McElhinney and Laurie Halt. August 21 honors James Johnson and Christian Beal. August 23 shines on Jessica Brown, JoJo Wild and Deral Meadows. August 24 is a party for Hannah Epworth. And on August 25 Wendy Smith, Susie Goldman, Kathy Donnellan and Sherm Goldstein take the cake. Many happy returns.