I had the great pleasure to accompany Gail Becker and her three daughters, Sharon, Anne and Lee, to the most wonderful concert last week at the Chilmark Community Center. The concert was offered by the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society. Three string players, all teachers and tops in their field, opened the concert. Then out came Delores Stevens, pianist, who has had a major role in keeping this Society going for 49 years. Delores enchanted us all. This is her last public performance. Next summer the many concerts and activities put on by the MVCMS will all be in honor of her.

David Behnke did the introductions. He made special note of Martin Becker’s long love of and involvement in this fabulous group. Martin was a classical pianist, a devoted husband, father, doctor and member of this society for his many years on island. Martin passed last March but will be in our hearts forever. David thanked the Becker family and shook each lady’s hand. I would like to see our talented kids in the music department at MVRHS take up the challenge to keep the beauty of classical music close to our ears and hearts.

The VTA contract is out and signed. Our hard-working year-round bus drivers finally got a contract they can accept. I admire these people so much. Thank you to all who participated. Shout out to Katherine Kavanaugh who helped move their position along.

When I was 10 years old and living in New York I began to read avidly the many daily newspapers the city put out at that time. One name and the work he did really struck me: Robert Morgenthau. From that time on I admired the work and the man. He passed last week at age 99. What a great man. What a great citizen. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Condolences also go out to the family and friends of Rich Liebson, a crackerjack reporter I knew from my Old Country, White Plains, N.Y. There will definitely be a hole in the newspapers and our hearts forever.

Pauline Gerber Norquist sadly reports that the smartest cat she ever knew, Picard, passed after thirteen years of family life with them. Our condolences to the family, and especially to son, Jon.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along my buddy, Milly Gerber Lockington, on July 19. Milly turned 93 in her home state of South Dakota. Sylvia Rogers turned 82 on July 27. Gisele Nascimento claims August 1. On August 3 this reporter parties with Tom Brady, Tom Colligan, Nancy Desrosiers, Melissa Conkling, David Lamothe and Diane Mack Nikulski. August 4 honors Barack Obama. And on August 5 Elaine Klein takes the cake. Many happy returns.

Send Vineyard Haven news to iklean@yahoo.com.