NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(iklean@yahoo.com)

Peter Simon is my hero! Nonna doesn’t get out for many excursions anymore, but last Sunday we planned a big day. It involves the walker, the wheelchair and the handicapped sticker for the truck. We began with the always entertaining Chicken Alley Art Show. Cheyenne, Monique, Nonna and I went and enjoyed meeting all our friends, as well as new acquaintances. Cheyenne was a great help with the footstool, wheelchair and walker conundrum.

Nonna always loves the Bunch of Grapes and has not been in their new facility this season. We drove to park in the handicapped space across from the store. Here’s where Peter came to our rescue. A young, blond female driving a black jeep with a Pennsylvania tag was in the handicapped spot with no sticker on her mirror. I pulled up next to her and told her if she had no sticker she had to leave. She looked at me and sneered that she wasn’t parked. What did she think, I’m stupid? I looked frantically for our town officers. Seeing none, I saw Peter Simon had just stepped out of his gallery. “Peter, do you believe this?” I yelled. Peter told her she had to leave. Again, she told him she wasn’t parked. Peter informed her that she was, then held up traffic to direct her to back out. He continued to hold traffic and safely guided me in. To add insult to injury, after Cheyenne and I safely got Nonna across Main street in her wheelchair, that little witch had rounded the block and almost ran me over while I was crossing in the crosswalk. Either she was angry with me, didn’t know our state law about stopping for people in crosswalks, took her stupid pills that morning, or all of the above. Nevertheless, I can’t thank Peter enough. As a favor to Nonna and me, stop in at Peter and Ronni’s gallery and see his photographs to jog your memories and Ronni’s jewelry to die for.

May I be condemned to a stalled car at Five Corners on Labor Day weekend when I am rushing to drive Nonna back to New York for neglecting to inform you of my esteemed colleague, Leslie J. Stark’s, birthday last Saturday, August 18. It won’t happen again, Leslie!

So Nonna loves the new layout at Bunch of Grapes. I might add that it is very handicapped-accessible; the girls were able to wheel her through all the aisles. For a few years she could not climb to the second floor of the old Bunch of Grapes, so this enables her to see all the subjects, as well as the children’s section. I purchased a few books, but thanks to a very kind friend in Chilmark — YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE — we have been given hundreds of wonderful books. My neighbors are all enjoying them.

We finished the day with the two girls and soft ice cream at Vineyard Scoops. We particularly admired the beautiful flowers, now at the beginning of Main Street, put up by La Choza’s proprietor, Seth Gambino, and the ever-artistic Matt Tobin. Note the whimsical antiques on the display.

Since I finally found a parking space, I went to check out one of my favorite and most peaceful stores, Imagine, (entrance on Union street just past the little mall). Imagine my disappointment to read it is closed for the summer season! However, there is a telephone number and you may call for an appointment. I find the selection there terrific for gift-giving and celebrating yourself.

Shaw Cramer Gallery is featuring the photography of Karen DiMaura now. Don’t miss it. I saw Denise Labadie’s tapestries last week and I am enchanted.

There is still no progress with my “old” column Yahoo account, so please send your news to the above e-mail until I find a teenager who doesn’t sleep all day to help me.

Bill and Jan Stokes returned to the ‘hood early this week and had a very nice party for the usual suspects. It was the first time I had seen Trude Hart since her return from Florida in mid-August. Everyone in our group is a vociferous reader; perhaps we should not dub these cocktail parties but book-group forums.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Bob and Patsy Wheeler on August 27. Jim and Anne Haney note many years of wedded bliss on the same day. August 30 is the anniversary for Clare Ann Harrington and Ed Mossy.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Quinn Beal and Hannah Epworth today. Tomorrow belongs to Sherm Goldstein, Wendy Smith and Kathy Donnellan. August 27 is shared by father and daughter, Joe and Cheyenne Cormier. August 28 is a party for Jan Stokes, Chris Alley, Peter Weisman, Debbie Healy and Mat Rice. August 29 honors Marck Baline. And on August 30, Monique Cormier, Laura Honey and Greta Kotova take the cake.

Many happy returns.