JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks2004@yahoo.com)

Thank you to Aquinnah highway superintendent Jay Smalley, who has made sure our cemetery, highways and byways look presentable for the season. The trees are in full bloom, there is an owl out at night along Lobsterville Road and the beach is calling sun worshipers already for the season. The Outermost Inn opened over the weekend.

Marian Irving reminds us that the Congregational Church in West Tisbury is sponsoring an Up-Island Tour of five special properties in Chilmark and West Tisbury on Saturday, May 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Three of the properties have been featured in the Martha’s Vineyard Magazine Home & Garden issue and are not to be missed with their ornamental shrubs, water gardens, rustic arbors and stone walls. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale in the parish hall at 10:45 am on Saturday. This would be a great way to entertain your weekend house guests. All proceeds will benefit the preservation efforts of the historic church.

Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard will sponsor a Memorial Day Road Race on Sunday, May 27 in Oak Bluffs. Please register at HospiceofMV.org or call 508-693-0189. There will be a 5K run/walk as well as a one mile fun run.

Aquinnah Public Library will feature Tom Dresser, who will present his latest book about the City of Columbus on Tuesday evening, May 29 at 5 p.m. at the Aquinnah town hall. Tom will focus his discussion on the many members of the Wampanoag Tribe who assisted in the rescue efforts of the wreck. Twenty-six persons were saved from the disaster of Jan. 18, 1884 off of Devil’s Bridge. One may purchase a copy of Tom’s book during the discussion. Refreshments will be served.

The Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force will present “Be a Parent, Not a Pal” on Wednesday, May 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the YMCA with Mark Hoover. Be a Parent, Not a Pal is a multi-media program designed to educate students, parents, teachers, and members of the community about the Social Host Law and to illustrate the legal consequences of allowing those under 21 to possess alcoholic beverages. Mark will tell the stories of victims of the consequences of underage drinking as well as of the hosts who have been prosecuted under the Social Host Law. Mark Hoover’s practice, Campbell, Campbell, Edwards & Conroy, focuses on civil defense matters for major multi-national corporate clients. Mark is a 1983 graduate of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Congratulations to Christopher Belain, son of Priscilla Belain and the late Irving Belain, who was recently honored for his 10 years of work at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Chris, a graduate of MVRHS, attended culinary arts school in Fall River and has been at the hospital since his graduation.

All the best to Kimberly Burke, daughter of Jo-ann Kinnecom and Brian Murphy and granddaughter of Captain Bob and Ernestine Kinnecom, upon opening her Island Spine Center at 155 State Road in Tisbury. Kim, a MVRHS graduate, recently graduated from chiropractic school in Florida and is delighted to return to the Vineyard to open a practice.

Maxwell Butler, son of Lenny and Mallory, arrived home over the weekend for a belated Mother’s Day celebration due to his incredibly busy schedule of either playing, performing or rehearsing. Max and Mallory enjoyed attending the Minnesingers Concert, which they felt was the strongest group ever in the past 45 years. The Minnesingers were very professional and sophisticated with their music from the past seven centuries and their presentation in four- and five-part harmony. A million bouquets for Minnesinger Director Jan Wightman and her students, who were note-for-note perfect throughout their concert. Jan was Max’s music theory teacher while he was a student at MVRHS.

Barry and Dottie Sullivan arrived for their summer sojourn on May 14. Their son Dan is here and is busy, back working for David Giles and Company. Their youngest, Katie, will arrive on May 27 with her boyfriend, Kurt Heffner. They have been hired by Jenna Petersiel at the Chilmark Tavern for the season and are looking forward to being on the Vineyard. Daughter Jackie will be married to Jeff Passetti at St. Elizabeth’s Church on July 28 with their reception at the Captain Flanders Inn, and the family is truly looking forward to this big event. Son Patrick became engaged to a lovely young woman—Donna O’Brien. They are also looking forward to visiting over the summer and autumn. In the meantime, Barry and Dottie have been very busy working in the gardens and are looking forward to many great beach walks.

Congratulations to Sophia Elizabeth Welch, daughter of Vernon and Berta Welch, upon her graduation from the University of Vermont on May 20. Sophia received her degree in Environmental Studies and will work with the Natural Resources Department for the tribe over the summer. Her graduation was attended by her parents and her brother Giles.

Have a safe and sound Memorial Day weekend. Be mindful of those who have served to protect our nation and our freedom. Many events will be celebrated over the weekend, but take a few moments to pause and reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. Thank you to our Vineyard Veterans agent Jo-Ann Kinnecom Murphy and her assistance in placing flags at the cemetery in Aquinnah — always an impressive site. Our tribal members have served our country in every conflict all the way back to the Revolution, and during World War I our community sent the largest proportionate share per population of any city or town in New England to serve. Native men and women have the highest percentage of servicemen and women across the nation and are known and honored for their meritorious service.

Happy Anniversary wishes to Seth and Megan Woods as they celebrate their special day on May 25. Happy 30th Anniversary wishes to Michael and Eleanor Hebert as they celebrate their special day on May 29.

Happy Birthday wishes this week to Janis Vogel on May 25. Marsha Shufrin will celebrate on May 26. Kayden Keith Devine will be four years old on May 27 and shares his day with Dr. Richard Koehler, Janice Brown, John Kozboski and Joanne Vanderhoop Robey. Wenonah Madison will party on May 28 and shares her day with Russell Peters and Christy Duarte. Our neighbor Fan Ogilvie will celebrate her special day on May 29 and shares the day with Nancy Benoit and Michael Francis. Warren (WoWo) Webber-Gebb will be six years old on May 30 and shares the day with Michael Gilman. Roxanne Ackerman and Jasmine Devine will celebrate on May 31.