Wow! That is about all I can say after attending the 50th reunion of the class of 1964 of Pleasantville High School in New York over the weekend. Most my classmates I have not seen since moving back to the Vineyard in 1961, and those students were classmates of mine for a brief time in fourth grade, and then from sixth through ninth grades. Many of us remembered each other and perhaps those who had no memory of our existence then did not have one in the first place. We were delighted to be accompanied over the weekend by our class advisor Jerry Solin, who had been the best mathematics teacher for most, and by our dearly beloved Stanley Ashe, who taught us English and social studies at Pleasantville Junior High School. I really need to elaborate on the weekend more, but not in the column at this time. I do thank Linda Holton for meeting me in Falmouth and providing round-trip travel, and to thank Janet Meleney for offering to share a room for the weekend — they both made it so much easier for me.

My week was a real whirlwind, boarding the Charles W. Morgan during the historic visit to the Vineyard with the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and with the West Tisbury second grade, who invited me to their beach party on Wednesday in Menemsha, briefly attending the change of command ceremony at Station Menemsha for outgoing Chief Jason Olsen, and then off to Pleasantville, New York for the 50th reunion. This week will be much less frantic.

School is out! It has been another wonderful, productive year. Noah Manning is heading to third grade as is Robbie Manning. Menasha Leport will be in sixth grade at West Tisbury, while her brother Cole heads to his freshman year at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Fynn Monahan of Jeffers Way will also attend West Tisbury’s sixth grade. Dominic Perez heads to MVRHS.

An update on Carl Widdiss — he is still continuing his cancer treatments in Phoenix, slowly getting a little stronger. Two weeks ago a fund was set up for Carl online at GoFundMe with a goal of $10,000, which received more than $7,770 the first day. The goal was increased to $25,000, which was met on day 15 this week. The goal has now been raised to $30,000. For those wishing to make a tax deductible donation, Paul Manning has worked on setting up an account for Carl and you may mail a check to You’ve Got a Friend c/o Carl Widdiss, P.O. Box 1317, West Tisbury, MA 02575. In the meantime, Carl and Pam are anticipating a visit home within the next two weeks. Carl will have to return to Phoenix on a regular basis for treatments, which are not covered by his health insurance nor by Indian Health Service. We have all felt the warmth and love of each donor at this time. Truly amazing, the generosity of everyone.

Joan LeLacheur will host an open studio at 42 Old South Road in Aquinnah on Saturday, July 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by to view some of Joan’s latest creations in wampum jewelry. If you miss the studio on Saturday, her next one will be on July 19.

Saturday, July 5, at the Aquinnah Public Library will be crafts for kids from noon to 3 p.m. Stop by and enjoy an afternoon of fun with Barbara Lampson and the Aquinnah library staff.

The Martha’s Vineyard Library Association offers the Summer Reading Kick-Off “Fizz, Boom, Read” with entertainer Bill Ross and face painting at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury on Saturday, July 5, at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $4 per person.

Artist Hermine Hull and author Brooks Robards (another Pleasantville High School graduate), have created a book together entitled On-Island: Poems and Paintings of Martha’s Vineyard. Their first reading/book signing will be on Sunday afternoon, July 6, at the Shaw Cramer Gallery on Main street in Tisbury from 4 to 6 p.m.

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival will present Rory Kennedy’s Last Days of Vietnam at the Chilmark Community Center. Miss Kennedy will be on hand for a Q & A. Dinner will be served by chefs Marvin Jones and Deon Thomas. Dinner is at 7 p.m. and the film is at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at TMVFF.org.

The Aquinnah Public Library will present Skip Finley and Kathleen McGhee-Anderson, who will sign their new book, A Martha’s Vineyard Love Story, on Thursday, July 10, at 5 p.m. at the Aquinnah town hall. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free. I have just learned that they have very generously offered to donate half the sales of their book toward the medical expenses for Carl Manning Widdiss.

Rudolph Tanzi will open the first session of the Summer Institute of the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center on Thursday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20. Dr. Tanzi will discuss Alzheimer’s disease, which he has studied for the past 30 years.

The Elders Program of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) returned over the weekend after spending a few days together in Washington, D.C. Forty-three participated in trip with tours of Arlington National Cemetery, War Memorials, the National Museum of the American Indian, dinners together, a visit with Dr. Helen Mays and her retirement community group, and many other adventures along the way. They all enjoyed the trip immensely under the guidance of Kristina Leslie.

Welcome to Ava Louise Dubno, six-month-old granddaughter of Tom Seeman and Marsha Shufrin, who has arrived to spend the month of July with her grandparents. Ava is the daughter of Jessica Seeman and Andrew Dubno of Manhattan.

Welcome to Katama Lauren Gover, daughter of Phil Gover and Grace Randolph who was born at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on June 18.

Happy 1st anniversary wishes to Michael and Gloria Fontes as they celebrate on July 6.

Happy 1st birthday wishes to Lyle Ignacio Vanderhoop on July 1, son of Todd Vanderhoop and Amera Ignacio. Wiet Bacheller will observe her special day on July 6, and shares the day with Wilmon Chipman. Marianne Spiller parties on July 7 as does Steve Yaffee. Gary Coates celebrates on July 8. Gloria Francis Fontes and Dominic Baird share the day on July 9. Michael Colaneri, Buzzy Blankenship, Jeanne Mayhew, Skyler Cameron and Mandy Tomkins all share the day on July 11.

Send your Aquinnah news to: junemanning152@gmail.com.