JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Thank you to Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg for hosting our second annual “Not a Holiday Party” at the Dr. Daniel Fisher house on Friday evening — the only time of the year that most of the columnists meet with the staff that on occasion changes and we meet the new. Jane Slater accompanied me on our journey down-Island. We were greeted by our new publisher, Jane Seagrave, and her husband, John Kennedy. Julia Wells was recuperating from her major milestone birthday on Wednesday. Joe Pitt and his wife, Melissa, greeted us while we enjoyed the music of John Alaimo, who was accompanied by his wife, Holly. We met our new managing editor, Joel Greenberg, and his wife, Pamela, and welcomed Vanessa Czarnecki. John Alley also ventured down-Island for the evening. Jane and I dined with Steve Durkee and his lovely wife, Liz, and we were joined by Holly Nadler. We have vowed to have the same table next year. A wonderful evening with a delicious meal prepared by the students of Jack O’Malley’s culinary arts program at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

The 26th annual WMVY Big Chili Contest will take place tomorrow at the Portuguese-American Club on Vineyard avenue in Oak Bluffs. Tickets are $30 each for the benefit of the Red Stocking Fund. Music will be performed by Entrain, Mexico Lindo Mariachi Band, Syndicate and DJ Alvzie.

Clifford the Big Red Dog will be at the Aquinnah Public Library tomorrow at 2 p.m. Stop by to visit with Clifford and his companion, Norman Bridwell, accompanied by his wife, Norma. Clifford has been a favorite among the children of the Vineyard and beyond for decades now and this is your chance to see him in person in Aquinnah.

Story time at the Aquinnah Public Library is every Thursday afternoon from 4 to 5 p.m. Barbara Lampson has also been assisting those who are interested in making scrapbooks. Valentine Day projects will be made over the next two weeks, so please stop by and enjoy the excitement. Coffee hour is still on Saturday mornings.

Reminder: The Bobby Sox Hop at Chilmark Community Center takes place tomorrow from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and benefit the PTO Outing Program. There will be a silent auction, desserts galore and beverages.

Rev. Veronica Lanier will be the guest minister at a special service on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. at Community Baptist Church of Gay Head. Rev. “Ronnie” will tell of her missionary work across the country for more than 50 years. She spent many years as the chaplain at Children’s Hospital in Boston and remains very active with her missions. Following the service, there will be a potluck dinner at the Totem Pole Inn hosted by Barry and Grace Reeves. For information, please call the Reeves at 508-645-2976. All are invited to attend.

Sincerest condolences to the family and many friends of Amanda Hutchinson, who passed away on Sunday. Amanda was the administrative assistant for the Aquinnah Board of Health, assistant for the Aquinnah Planning Board, a member of Friends of Aquinnah Public Library, for which she single-handedly raised funds a year ago to match a library grant, and shared her knowledge of fiber arts with many at the Aquinnah library. Amanda is survived by her husband, Steve; their children, Caetlyn, Dylan and Alayna; her parents, Fred Burrell of New York and Mary Nichols of Oak Bluffs, and by her brother, Samuel, of New York. She will be missed by many for whom she cared for their homes during the winter months.

Marshall Lee, his wife, Martha Vanderhoop, and their sons, Samuel and Joseph, have returned from a two-week tour of Japan. It was their first trip to Japan for all, except for Martha, who was born in Yokohama but had not returned since infancy. Her father, the late Charles W. Vanderhoop, Jr., was in the Merchant Marine and her late mother, Hatsuko, was once a secretary, eventually married in a Japanese wedding ceremony. This trip was enjoyed visiting with many family members, meeting new cousins who have never visited in the United States and with those who have, and to especially see Martha’s aunts and uncles, the siblings of her late mother, Hatsuko. They spent nine days in Tokyo, five days in Kyoto, and then on to Yokohama. They all went to Mount Fujiyama with their cousins and to Kamakura. Marshall and JoJo took a one day trip to Hiroshima. Most of their travel was aboard the fast traveling bullet trains. All in all it was a fantastic trip and one to be taken again. For now, Marshall and Martha were on the Vineyard for the day on Tuesday, Sam has returned to his senior year studies at Yale University and JoJo has returned to his freshman year studies at Columbia University.

Our population of elders in Aquinnah are really technologically savvy. Anne Vanderhoop Madison has been enjoying the Kindle her children surprised her with for Christmas. Gladys Widdiss has a large computer screen on her table. Carl Widdiss enjoys his mini notebook. Over the holidays we all found ourselves sitting around the table with various iPads, iPhones, laptops, notebooks, etc. keeping up with news all over the world and learning about upgrades. We may possibly have cell service in Aquinnah after waiting for nearly seven years. One of the DAS system antennae was installed the other night. At last!

Zachary Smalley and four of his classmates at the Martha’s Vineyard Charter School returned home on Saturday night after spending four days in Manhattan with their chaperones, Jonah Maidoff and Sarah Smith. The entire program for the four days was all creatively scheduled by Alexandra Taylor and funded by an anonymous donor to allow the students to experience an adventure beyond Martha’s Vineyard and to learn of career paths. This was the first in a series of trips for the students to participate in that will expose them to a variety of options following their graduation. Their accommodations were at a hostel in Manhattan. They enjoyed People Helping People as volunteers and a visit to volunteer organizations. Can you imagine — a private tour of the United Nations. They went to Columbia University to learn more about a sustainability project, then walked from Columbus Circle to Times Square with a Department of Transportation representative who informed them of sustainable streets. The next stop was a visit to the magnificent St. John the Divine Cathedral. Next, on to the School of Visual Arts. A most solemn visit to the 911 Memorial. And then the students learned about a digital musical production. Needless to say, they enjoyed great foods throughout the city and a great time was had by all.

Belated Happy Birthday wishes to Holly Mascott Nadler, who celebrated her special day on Jan. 25. Happy Birthday this week to Adriana Giles Ignacio as she celebrates today. David Vanderhoop will party on Jan. 29 and shares the day with Mary Vanderhoop, who will be 15. Lois Craine will celebrate on Jan. 30, as will Gimili Glavin. Andrew Fischer will party on Feb. 1 and shares the day with Tamara Jardin, Anastasia Sargent and Angela Waldron. Emmet Carroll will party on Feb. 2 and shares the day with Betty Joslow, Mark Shea and Adam Gebb.