JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks2004@yahoo.com)

It is that time of year once more when we gather for our annual town meeting to appropriate the necessary funding to support our town services. The special town meeting will take place Tuesday, May 8 at 6:45 p.m., followed by the annual town meeting at 7 p.m. The elections will take place on Wednesday, May 9 from noon to 7 p.m. Please remember to exercise your right to participate in your town meeting and to vote as democracy is not a spectator sport. Most important will be the budget for schools for the next fiscal year and the funding needed to cover natural healthy foods for our children in the up-Island schools. Another vital funding will be for the purchase of four Scott Air packs necessary for the Aquinnah Fire Department to carry out their duties in a safe manner. The present air packs are outmoded. Neither parts nor service are available to upgrade them and they are not compatible with the current equipment. Other important articles will cover the post employment benefit fund as well as training for Tri-Town emergency medical technicians.

Story time and crafts will be featured at the Aquinnah Public Library on Thursday afternoons for the month of May. Every Thursday afternoon from 3:30 to 4 p.m. will be a creative time for all to enjoy. The latest movies and books have arrived for your pleasure.

Adriana Ignacio opened her shop, On the Cliffs, this past week and has it filled with her latest treasures found over the winter. The Aquinnah Shop and Dreamcatcher are soon to open for the season.

It was a pleasure to meet Eileen DiBenedetto of Aquinnah and Washington, Conn. Eileen and her husband, Anthony, are longtime seasonal residents and we were introduced by Sandy Pimental at a luncheon at her home on Friday. Trudy Taylor joined us for lunch, as did Sandy’s husband, Paul, and their daughter, Courtney. It was a wonderful afternoon of laughter and one to be repeated soon.

Edward Fantasia remains a patient at Children’s Hospital in Boston where his family is by his side each day. At the tribal Spring Social on Sunday, an offering was taken for the family to assist them while they are in Boston during this time.

If you are in the Cambridge area on Tuesday, Nicole Galland will have a reading and signing of her latest book, I, Iago, on Tuesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White street, in Cambridge. Nicki’s book was inspired by Shakespeare’s Othello and is filled with love and jealousy. It was a pleasure to hear her at the West Tisbury Library one week ago.

First Baptist Church will sponsor the annual Musical May Tea with Martha and friends at First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday, May 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. Martha Child and friends will fill the hall with music that is sure to recall some delightful moments from your childhood and fond memories of joyful times. Enjoy tea, sandwiches, and cake served through the afternoon program. Stop by at anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. There will also be a table of gift items for sale. Tickets to the tea are $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information and tickets, please call 508-693-1539.

Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living will sponsor the next popular cultural luncheon on Saturday, May 19 from noon to 2 p.m. at The Grill on Main in Edgartown. Speakers for the luncheon will be Elisha Smith, James and Deborah Athearn of Morning Glory Farm, as well as Melinda Rabbitt DeFeo. They will discuss the agriculture of Martha’s Vineyard over the years and its influence and culture on the Vineyard. Special music will be performed. Chef Anthony Saccocia of The Grill will prepare a special menu for the luncheon. Tickets are $25 per person and reservations may be made by calling MVC4L Director Leslie Clapp at 508-939-9440.

The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living was recently awarded a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for the purchase of 15 insulating quilts. They will be used to transport perishable food products from Boston to the Vineyard for the food cupboard program, in conjunction with our community partner Island Food Products. The funds were also used to provide a new freezer for the food cupboard at the First Baptist Church parish house in Vineyard Haven. Thank you to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and to our community partners for supporting our efforts.

Michael and Eleanor Hebert returned home on Tuesday evening after spending their vacation in Fatima, Portugal; Burgos, Spain; Lourdes, France and ending in Barcelona, Spain. They had a wonderful time with their travel group, many of whom remained for two weeks in Italy. Lots of great food, cheer, laughter, and tales. They toured many of the historical sites in each city. In the small world department, their paths crossed with Brian and Elaine Vanderhoop at Lufthansa at the airport as they were headed to her family home in the Black Forest.

Congratulations and all the best to Amira Madison as she graduates today from Northeastern University. Amira is the daughter of Jean Ann Madison and granddaughter of Freda Belain Rocker and the late Medicine Man Luther Madison. She is looking forward to graduate school in September.

Marshall Lee and his wife Martha Vanderhoop attended their son Sam’s Senior Project Exhibition at Yale School of Art over the weekend. Sam is a fine arts major. They were accompanied by their younger son JoJo, a freshman at Columbia University. Needless to say, it was a nice family weekend together. For now, Marshall and Martha are busy at their HatMarChar Shop at the Cliffs, where they have many items on sale.

Richard Skidmore has written a wonderful article entitled Grace Happens for the spring edition of Avalon magazine. Richard is also involved with the marketing and public relations of Avalon. The spring issue has many wonderful articles, including a story by Nancy Slonim Aronie and many beautiful photographs as well as intriguing recipes.

Speaking of Grace happening, thank you to Julia Kidd for her positive message signs across the Vineyard. In Aquinnah we have “Oh What a Treasure You Are.”

The May-June 2012 issue of Martha’s Vineyard Magazine is on newsstands. Garden muse Frances Tenenbaum is featured with all of her amazing gardening secrets. Also in the issue is a story of Bob Carroll and his much-talked about penthouse.

Diamond Vanderhoop returned home recently following a trip to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., accompanied by her friend Helen and by Mary Beth Grady of Chilmark Chocolates.

Congratulations to Jesse Wiener, son of Jerry Wiener and Carolyn Feltz, who had his first professional performance of his music in New York over the weekend at New York City Center. Jesse composed the opening song, There, as well as the closing number with a 13-piece orchestra before an audience of 2,000 that included Angela Lansbury and legendary producer/director Harold Prince. The music was by Jonathan Tunick and the performers for the evening were Victoria Mallory and Kurt Peterson in a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Happy 43rd anniversary wishes to Michael and Karen Goethals Colaneri, who celebrated their special day on April 27 — with nary a cross word spoken in all those blissful years.

Happy 40th anniversary wishes to Michael and Pamela Morgan Dolby, who will celebrate their special day on May 6. A lovely wedding with fond memories of their reception following their solemn vows all those years ago.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Alexandra Taylor as she celebrates on May 6. MJ Rogers will party on May 8. Lenny Polucci will celebrate on May 10 and shares the day with Cookie Gazaille and Bonnie Ciancio Parent.

Paula Peters and Robin Robinson Smith share the day on May 11.