JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks2004@yahoo.com)

The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living will hold the first in a series of cultural luncheons on Saturday, Oct. 20 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Grill on Main. Chef Antonio Saccoccia will once again provide a delectable luncheon for all to enjoy. The featured speaker will be David R. White of The Yard in Chilmark. Mr. White served as executive director and producer of the Dance Theater Workshop in New York from 1975 to 2003. For reservations, please call Leslie Clapp at 508-939-9440. Tickets are $25.

Make some pumpkin-y and ghostly crafts with Barbara Lampson, Rosa Parker and Cathy Thompson at the Aquinnah Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 1 to 2 p.m. All materials will be provided. For questions, please call 508-645-2314. Barbara continues her Thursday afternoon story hour at 3:30 p.m., captivating her young audience.

Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network will sponsor a panel on Oct. 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown. Light fare will be provided by Chef Shaun Sells. The discussion will be Island-grown Businesses. Tickets are $25 for nonmembers. You may pay online atmvwomensnetwork.org.

Indian cooking class with Uma Datta will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Edgartown School. This is a one-time class cosponsored by Adult and Community Education (ACE MV) and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. For information and pre-registration, please contact lynn@acemv.org or call 774-310-1131.

The annual Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Minnesingers Auction and Mini-Concert will be held at Farm Neck Cafe on Friday, Oct. 26. The silent auction begins at 6:30 p.m. and the mini-concert and live auction begin at 8 p.m. There will be hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a cash bar. Tickets are $25. Something new this year is the ability for anyone to preview selected auction items and bid for them online at 32auctions.com/mvrhsminnesingers. We all know the Minnesingers is a beloved high school choral group who have serenaded Vineyarders for many wonderful years. And this year, they have the lofty goal of traveling to Croatia in the spring to sing in schools and churches in the Balkans. So, raising money is critical and it is anticipated the auction can really give the kids a big boost toward their goal.

Unexpected Harvests will be the topic of conversation on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Chilmark Community Center for the 30th Women’s Symposium. Enjoy the speakers, small group discussions and refreshments. Admission is free, donations are welcome to cover expenses. Betty Eddy will once again be the moderator.

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services would like to remind one and all that CONNECT is having their annual Walk to End Violence on Saturday, Oct. 27. The registration fee is $5. The walk begins at 10:30 a.m. and goes through downtown Edgartown and will take about an hour and a half.

Congratulations to our friends at the West Tisbury Library in achieving their goal by Oct. 1 through a challenge grant. The West Tisbury Library Foundation continues now to raise funds for landscaping, not covered in the state grant. Donations may be sent through the foundation’s website, wtlibraryfoundation.org, or by mail to: P.O. Box 1238, West Tisbury, MA 02575.

It is not too early to start creating your handmade treasures for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard annual Handmade from the Heart sale to be held on Dec. 8 in Edgartown. All local artisans, from candlestick makers to bakers, are invited to contribute to this holiday fundraiser. Hospice will be seeking unique handmade items including jewelry, needlepoint, knitted items, paintings, photographs, Christmas ornaments and more. If you are interested in donating, please call Rachel Beaulieu at the Hospice office at 508-693-0189.

Please remember to write to Aquinnah town clerk Carolyn Feltz to request your absentee ballot. Absentee ballot requests may be printed from your computer online at sec.state.ma.us. Click absentee ballot, complete form and mail to Carolyn Feltz at 65 State Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535. Or, you may stop by her office and complete an absentee ballot if you are not going to be in town to vote on Nov. 6. Requests must be for yourself only.

Condolences to the family and friends of Lawrence S. Carlton, M.D., father of Nancy Carlton Benoit, who passed away in Simsbury, Conn. on Oct. 10. Dr. Carlton was the father-in-law of James Benoit, and the grandfather of Laina. Services will be held in Connecticut this weekend.

Henry and Betty Costabel have been enjoying the autumn weather at their Aquinnah home.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Ollie Nance Edwards, who passed away peacefully at her home in Essex, Conn. on Oct. 8, surrounded by the love and presence of four generations of her family. I spent

four wonderful summers with Ollie and her husband, Garth Williams Edwards. They had just observed their 73rd anniversary on Sept. 30. Ollie and Garth enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their lovely home at the top of Abel’s Hill for the past 44 years. Over the years their travels took them around the world, but the Vineyard was special for their summers for the past half-century. The summer seasons were enjoyed by visits from their extended family for many gatherings, especially birthday parties and weddings, but Thanksgiving week was always traditional for as many family members as possible to gather. Garth and Ollie were both very kind and generous. Their generosity was inimitable, especially for yours truly when they invited me to reside at their home for four months while my new home was being completed. Through the Edwards family I have met most of the families of Abel’s Hill and have enjoyed spending time with all. Ollie is survived by her beloved, Garth Williams Edwards; her son, Garth Nance Edwards and his wife, Jennie, of Southport, N.C.; her daughter Nancy Thompson and her husband, Hilly, of Dover and Chappaquonsett; her grandchildren Benjamin, Cathy, Courtney, Critter (Christopher), Garth Ross Edwards and Libby; and her eight great grandchildren. Services were held in Connecticut with a memorial service planned for the summer of 2013 on the Vineyard. Congratulations to Alayna Hutchinson, daughter of Steve Hutchinson, who was crowned the Homecoming Queen over the weekend at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School football festivities.

Artis Sparkman has been enjoying the autumn weather at her Aquinnah home. It is always great to see her this time of the year.

Beatrice Patadal has arrived to spend time with her mother, Joan Gentry Patadal, her grandmother, Beatrice Vanderhoop Gentry, and her aunt, Barbara Gentry. Beatrice just hosted a baby shower for Naushon Vanderhoop in Brooklyn over the weekend.

Naushon Vanderhoop will be honored on Sunday, Oct. 21 with a baby shower at the Aquinnah town hall from 4 p.m. onwards. It will be a potluck evening and all of her family and friends are invited to attend. RSVP rackerman@gmail.com.

Happy 32nd anniversary wishes to Vern and Berta Welch on Oct. 25.

Happy birthday wishes to Clyde Phillips as he celebrates on Oct. 20 in the midst of writing a new television show. Barbara Gentry, Chantal Booker, Paul Mendelson, Nicole Allen, Joseph Vanderhoop Lee and Nancy Campana all share the day on Oct. 21.

Pearl Vercruysse will party on Oct. 22 and shares the day with our neighbor Jenna Petersiel. Christopher Belain will celebrate on Oct. 23. Curtis Langer parties on Oct. 24. Isaac Taylor will party on Oct. 25.