JUNE D. MANNING
508-645-2574
Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living will present the next in the cultural luncheon series on March 3 from noon to 2 p.m., featuring the Brazilian community and their contributions and influence on the Vineyard. The guest speaker is Valci Carvalho. Dan Waters will perform on guitar and there will be a special Brazilian dance group. The luncheon will be held at the Grill on Main. Chef Anthony Saccoccia and his staff have prepared a special menu. A few tickets are available by calling 508-939-9440. Tickets are $25 and benefit the Center for Living and programs available for those 55 and over.
Tuesday, March 6 is primary day. The polls in Aquinnah will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for your voting pleasure. Please exercise your right to vote as democracy is not a spectator sport.
Reminder: The Martha’s Vineyard Neighborhood Convention on March 6 will begin at 10:45 a.m. at the First Baptist Church parish house in Tisbury. The Rev. Ellen Tatreau will lead the worship. Please bring a brown bag lunch; beverages and dessert will be served. The offering is directed to Island charities.
I still have not seen the Academy Awards, have slept through them twice due to my jetlag. Missed the red carpet by 24 hours. I just returned from North Hollywood on Sunday afternoon after spending seven glorious days with our middle sister, Judith, and our only first cousins in the world, Elena, Linda and Oliver. Our aunt, June Noble, passed away in December and we had many estate issues to deal with. My intention was to spend an afternoon in Hollywood to photograph the two places we resided in 1956 and 1957 and the three schools that we had attended, but due to our schedule that never happened. At least the weather was in the 80s each day and sunny. On the way home I enjoyed a brief visit in Phoenix with my daughter, Sharon Spiller, and granddaughter, Marianne Spiller. Hollywood was so close and yet so far and will mean another trip just for sightseeing.
Thank you to the education department of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) for providing a wonderful family day at the Boston Children’s Museum on Tuesday. Education director Laura Edelman and her assistants, Kitty Hendricks and Allison Colarusso, had planned a great day to see the new exhibit Native Voices, which includes many video and audio tapes. The exhibit displays the tribal lands and people of the Aquinnah Wampanoag, the Mashpee, MicMac, Narragansett, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Tribes. We were especially delighted to see an instructional photograph album of Gladys Widdiss explaining how to make pottery; there were many varied pieces of the Gay Head Cliffs pottery on display. Gladys was a member of the board of directors at Boston Children’s Museum for more than 30 years. She still has visitors on occasion from the museum seeking her wisdom and advice.
Speaking of visitors, Gladys Widdiss was very glad to have a visit over the weekend from Henry Sockbeson and his wife, Dee. Henry, a member of the Penobscot Tribe and a graduate of Harvard Law School, is presently the chief justice for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Henry was formerly with the Native American Rights Fund and has represented our Aquinnah Tribe on many issues over the past 40 years.
Condolences to the family and friends of Kathleen Brady, who passed away on Saturday at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Kathleen was the assistant director at the Up-Island Council on Aging. She was known for her kindness in calling many of their clients each morning to check on them to be sure they were safe, healthy and warm, but she was known more for her amazing wit. Kathleen was also a vital volunteer with her daughter, Kathleen Lobb, at the Agricultural Fair over the years. She will be missed by many up-Islanders. Services will be held on March 10.
Condolences to the family and friends of James Heine, who passed away at his home in White Plains, N.Y. on Feb. 22. He was the grandfather of Robert Manning and great-grandfather of Robert, Ryleigh and Logan. Robert and his mother, Jyl Manning, attended services in White Plains on Sunday. We shared many happy family gatherings at their home over the past two decades.
Condolences to the family and friends of wildlife photographer and poet Julian Robinson. It seems like just the other day I saw Julian in West Tisbury.
Aquinnah is rather quiet these days. So many people have gone to warmer climes for their vacation week. Please let me know when you return so I may share your travels and excitement with your friends and neighbors.
Happy Birthday wishes this week to fellow Vineyard Gazette columnist Kathie Noble Case, who will celebrate on March 3 and shares the day with Penny Huff. Malia Austin Bodnar will be three years old on March 3. Robert Rosenberg will celebrate on March 4 and shares the day with Sharon Spiller, Paul David Sampieri and Charlie Chaprales.
March 5 is the day of celebration for Ruth Rocha, Wendy Andrews, Helene Hall and Charles Vanderhoop III.
Two of my favorite twins and schoolmates, David and Douglas Seward will celebrate on March 6 — isn’t it wonderful to have our Medicare cards? Who would have ever thought we would look forward to these all those years ago?
Edwin Drew and Aron Jackson share the day on March 7. Michael Johnson will party on March 9.
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