508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

I don’t think anyone can argue about how beautiful the blue moon was this past week. A few wacky things that happened around, which my mother always attributed to the full moon, but the nights were perfect and very bright.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. I have a lot of balloons to give out this week, but the list was not ready for the deadline of this column as the school has a new system. They are still getting used to it and should have it mastered by the end of the day. So we will list them next week.

Our road has been getting a little busier now that the teachers are back to work and getting the classrooms ready for their new students. I look forward to the new year, watching the kids going by with totally different faces than they had in June. Still, some are very excited to get the year going.

Mary Ellen Kresel has come to the Island for a quick visit. This time she came bearing great news. Her son Jonathan and his wife, Courtney, have announced that they are having twins in January. This will be the second set of twins for this family; as you know, her daughter Sue and son in law Jonathan have twin boys. We are now teasing Josh that if he ever gets married and has kids, it may be a family thing to have an instant family. Congratulations to Jon and Courtney!

Featherstone presents the second annual Artists Studio Tour on Saturday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $50, which allows guests to visit 16 artists who will open their studios and showcase their artwork. A closing celebration reception will take place on Sunday, Sept. 9 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Featherstone. The 17 participating artists are Sandy Bernat, a paper artist from West Tisbury; Laurene Krasny Brown, a mixed media artist from Vineyard Haven; Patricia Carlet, a painter and pen and ink artist from Vineyard Haven; Marston Clough, a painter and printmaker from Vineyard Haven; Deirdre DeCarion, a wood artist from Edgartown; Debra Gaines, a photographer from Edgartown; Warren Gaines, a pastel painter from Edgartown; Anne Grandin, a painter from Vineyard Haven; Larry Hepler, a wood furniture maker from Chilmark; Jay Lagemann, a metal sculptor from Chilmark; Joan LeLacheur, a wampum jeweler from Aquinnah; Julia Mitchell, a tapestry maker from West Tisbury; Lucinda Sheldon, an enamel jeweler from Oak Bluffs; Donna Straw, a painter from Vineyard Haven; Liz Taft, a painter from Vineyard Haven; Wendy Weldon, a painter from Chilmark, and Jules Worthington, a painter from Chilmark.

Adult and Community Education of MV (ACE MV) will be collaborating with the Yoga Barn to offer a 29-week yoga teacher training course geared toward Island educators. The certificate course will be led by the former director of Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training, Martha Abbot, accompanied by Dr. Wendy Chabot, who is facilitating teaching yoga for children, plus experienced Kraal yoga instructor Scarlet Jarrell, with Lynn Ditchfield guiding students seeking undergraduate and graduate college credit from Fitchburg State University for the course. Students will learn the sacred arts, skills and responsibilities of being a yoga teacher and translating the practice into our schools to create a safe environment for learning. Training includes posture alignment, breathing techniques and anatomy and physiology as it relates to yoga. There are opportunities for limited scholarships for Island educators applying early, as well as a 5 per cent early bird registration discount if you sign up by Sept. 15. For more information and to register, go to acemv.org or call 508-693-5364 or 774-310-1131. In-person registration for ACE MV classes will be at the Living Local Harvest Festival on Sept. 29, and at the regional high school from 4:30 to 6 p.m, Oct. 2 and 3.

Don’t forget that it is school time, so slow down at crosswalks and watch for children biking and walking on their way to school.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.