I just heard from Abby McGrath, the driving force behind Renaissance House here on Island for so many years. While we could not find a house to rent this season for our writers, poets and artists workshop, Abby and I are still very interested in setting something up for next year. Come on, all you patrons of the arts! I was reminded of the long reaches of the Harlem Renaissance writers. Nonna’s good friend and neighbor, Betty Barone, called me up to say she had just finished reading The Wedding by Dorothy West and had I heard of her? Oh, yes indeed! And I explained our connection on Martha’s Vineyard to that wonderful lady. Stay tuned, we have not stopped looking for a place to house creative writers yet. Will the circle be unbroken?

Except for the recent departure of Wanda Denton, back to West Hartford for a brief stay to take care of business, Lenny’s Loop is filling up faster than a luge ride in the winter Olympics. Bill and Jan Stokes are here. Mareda Gaither-Graves is here. Paul and Margery Howes arrived mid-day on Tuesday. Their East Brunswick clan, daughter Julie and husband Javier Gomez Blanco and the two grandchildren, Aidan and Olivia, arrived Tuesday night. And our year-round stalwarts anchor Lenny’s Loop. Aase Jones was walking her pooch Spooky and stopped by my house to ask Teri how Nonna and I were doing. Lenny’s Loop is filling up so fast, they might have to rent space on Bernard Circle. Aase, please extend my best regards to all my other friends at town hall, especially Joanne and Hilary.

Our summer reading program for children is off to a great start at the Vineyard Haven Library. Remember all summer guests and visitors are also welcome at our events. All events are free. For the month of July, every Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. there will be Wii games available for kids ages 12 and older. Pete the Cat visits for Tuesday storytelling hour on July 7. Infants to three year olds meet and greet Pete at 10 a.m. Ages three and up enjoy this Kitty at 11 a.m. And on Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m. ages five and up enjoy the talent of visiting crafter Martha Hubbell. I had the pleasure to meet Martha last year as she was finishing a craft session at our library. I dare say, no one loves her job more than Martha.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Doug and Leslie Hewson on July 3, to Tim and Tootie Kieffer on July 4, and to Steve and Judy Nichols on July 9.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Charlie Moore, Christine Geddis, Larry Gomez and Hans Buder on July 3. Independence Day is a party for Steve McCarthy, Cora Medeiros, Derek Araujo, Steve Nichols and the incomparable Marianne Thomas. July 5 clebrates Michael McCluskey and Pat Murphy. July 6 shines on Carol Fleming, Kerry Sertl and Selma Balbino. July 7 belongs to Kyle Natichioni, Peggy Jewett, Cathy Burdick and Julie Fisher. July 8 is claimed by Jordan Stallings. And on July 9, Richard Clark, Bruce Bailey, Matthew Lobdell, Betty Cormier and Nathan Herrick take the cake. Many happy returns.

Send Vineyard Haven news to iklean@yahoo.com.