NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

It’s time to read again! My favorite clock has been placed across from the old Bunch of Grapes building to the front of the new Bunch of Grapes. What a pleasure.

I spent Wednesday afternoon with my two assistants, Cheyenne and Monique Cormier, playing tourist. We had a blast shopping on Main street. We entered stores I have never had time to see, as well as some of our best standbys, and bought trinkets and gifts for all our family members. We met one of the Susans at Two Susans and picked up a starfish barrette for Nonna’s hair. We visited the Free Bird Market, former home to Riley’s Reads, and met the very beautiful Tammy, mother of the owner, who is pressed into service by her artist daughter, Ashley Gilbert, new owner of the shop. The shop was a riot of color and interesting things, vintage and new, from pocketbooks to jeans to shoes and, of course, some of Ashley’s best artwork. We made a trip to Rainy Day. We found decorations for Monique’s hair and baby bowls for her dolls at Leslie’s. Nothing would do but to finish up at the thrift shop, where we made a killing on kitchenware sale day. Then on to the Vineyard Pizza Place to bring home dinner. What a surprise! One of my very best students from grade school through high school, townie Lyrae Littlefield, is working there part-time and gave us our order and kibbitzed with us. I haven’t seen Lyrae for a few years. She is the proud graduate, on May 3, of a cosmetology school on the Cape, has her license, and is working at the Spa at the Mansion House when you don’t see her handing over pizzas. I love her parents. It’s always nice to see an Island kid turn out so well.

Ed and Carrie Lau are visiting the Bill and Jan Stokes home on Lenny’s Loop. Bill and Jan are Carrie’s parents. They also have as guests the Labradors Wiley and Marley. Kim Beal and her family are expected by today — this is Carrie’s sister, so Carrie might extend her stay until Tuesday. Welcome back, everyone.

The Shaw Cramer Gallery will feature the landscapes of Elizabeth Taft on July 31. Don’t miss it.

Our library has a special treat for Story Time on July 31. At 10 a.m. newborns to two year olds, and at 11 a.m. three to five year olds may meet Kevin Henkes’s famous mouse, Lilly. They will hear the story of Lilly and the Purple Plastic Purse. I wish my age group was included.

Our condolences to the family and friends of the dynamic Robyn Friedman, especially to her son, Adam, and his wife, Nicole, on the sudden passing of this great and always involved lady. She did so many things I cannot list them all. She will never be forgotten.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Ed and Lil Colligan on July 28 for their 61st wedding anniversary. Now here’s a couple that fell in love and stayed there!

Today the birthday bandwagon pulls along Vicki Burrows, Liz Masi, Buntie Bahal, Megan Honey, Michael Cobban, Connie Campbell, Theo Cowett and Caleb Enos. Tomorrow shines on Jane Martin, Keiko Corey, Sarah Moreis and Andrew Chappell. July 29 is a party for Gerry Franzago, Michael Desrosiers, Chris Cimeno and Doug Sabin. July 30 belongs to Ashley Medeiros, Diane Hartmann and Jonathan Alexander Gardella. July 31 is for Gale Grain Monk and Tony Radoszewski. August 1 honors Gisele Nascimento and Charlotte Lowell-Bettencourt. And on August 2 Sam Marlin and Seniel Seward take the cake. Many happy returns.