NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(iklean@yahoo.com)

May I be condemned to be in a stalled car in the middle of Five Corners on the Labor Day weekend exodus for neglecting to inform you last week of the famous Chicken Alley Art Show at our thrift shop last Sunday. This annual fundraiser for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is always a great place to meet friends, purchase gifts and view the art that comes into the shop over the previous year. Fortunately, it is so popular that the show did just fine without my publicity. People began lining up at 9:30 a.m. for a noon opening. I hear the art show made even more money than ever. If you missed out, any remaining art pieces are now for sale in the thrift shop during regular business hours. I’ll see you there.

Congratulations to my friends the Tingleys of Sharon, Conn., and Martha’s Vineyard, on the birth of their first grandchild. Eloise Moore Kivitz was born on August 6 at 5:34 p.m. in New York city where she resides with her parents, Jeff and Julia Kivitz. Eloise weighed in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and is 20 inches long, perhaps longer by now. The whole family is doing very well and can’t wait to introduce Eloise to the family home on Martha’s Vineyard. Welcome to the world, Eloise!

I am in awe of my friend Diane Hartmann. I have known her for years and always considered her a Renaissance woman. Her accomplishments are not limited to but include: registered pharmacist, musician, artist, entrepreneur and belly dancer. Add USCG-licensed captain to this impressive list. You can book a sailing cruise right from our Lake Tashmoo shore by contacting Captain Diane at 508-361-0484, visiting mvsailingcharters.com or emailing wing@mvsailingcharters.com. Yes, the name of her craft is Wing. Diane offers sunset cruises, day trips, picnics, you name it. She has all the required safety equipment for grown-ups and children. This is a perfect birthday party or end of summer treat. Diane has invited Nonna. We’ll see.

Our library is humming along with end of summer programs. Crowd-pleaser Kathy Forrester will entertain the wee ones at the story hours on Tuesday, August 27 at 10 a.m. for infants to two year olds, 11 a.m. for the three to five set. On Wednesday, August 28, the summer movie program of family entertainment winds down with a 90-minute show at 3 p.m. Our traveling Mother Goose on the Loose road show, presented by the West Tisbury librarians, welcomes all kids ages six months to three years old on Thursday, August 29 at 10:30 a.m. in our program room. Big surprise! A mystery activity will be presented at 3:30 p.m. also on Thursday for ages five and up. All you need to know is that you will get very messy. Dress accordingly.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Jim and Anne Haney on August 27. Bob and Patsy Wheeler celebrate many years of wedded bliss on the same day.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jessica Brown, Deral Meadows and JoJo Wild today. Tomorrow is shared by Hannah Epworth and Quinn Beal. August 25 is a party for Wendy Smith, Kathy Donellan, Sherm Goldstein and Susie Goldman. August 27 belongs to dad and daughter, Joe and Cheyenne Cormier. August 28 shines on Peter Weisman, Janet Stokes, Matt Rice, Chris Alley, George Platt and Debbie Healy. And on August 29 Marck Baline takes the cake. Many happy returns.