NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

This is the kind of news I live to report. Over 50 years ago, Melvin and Neva Thornhill fell in love and stayed there. In celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary on June 4, Melvin and Neva are inviting all their Island friends to the First Baptist Church on Sunday, June 6, at 12:30 p.m. to witness the renewal of their vows. A wonderful reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Don’t miss this happy occasion. Neva says no gifts, please, but I bet a card would be okay.

One of my best friends, Rosemary Gambino of Rosecuts Salon on Causeway Road is spearheading the effort to clean the oil spill in the Gulf. It seems that hair trimmings, fur, wool, and nylons might be even better to soak up the mess than chemical products. After the hair soaks up the oil it can be mixed with green waste, composted over two years, and fed to worms. The bacteria in the compost and worms break down the oil and make a fantastic fertilizer. Interested salon owners, horse owners, and other individuals are urged to contact Rosecuts at 508-693-5362 or rosecutsmv@yahoo.com. Rose will collect and pay to ship the materials to Matter of Trust, a nonprofit organization collecting these items for this cleanup. Rosemary, you always astound me with your hard work and generosity.

Another generous group is the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library who are starting a new program as of June 1. A library cart will be available at the Steamship Authority terminal to give free books to travelers, no need to return! Bookmarks and listings of our library’s hours and programs will be available. What a great idea!

Our American Legion Post 257 on Martin Road reminds you that we need help putting up the flags at the cemetery in Vineyard Haven at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, May 31. Our parade will step off from the Post at 9:30 a.m., take the brief march to the cemetery, where there will be the annual memorial services and laying of wreaths. All scouts, friends, visitors, seasonals, military — everyone is invited to attend. Afterwards, there will be a party at the Legion with free refreshments. We need help taking the flags down after observing a moment of silence at 3 p.m. at the cemetery. I’ll see you there.

Our Legion Auxiliary last meeting was postponed on May 18 because it was the first night of another Legion event, so deemed too confusing. Therefore, our last meeting for the season will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15 at the Ocean View. Now, the good news about the postponement is — guess what? Taking a cue from the ever-popular Grace Church Friday night lobster roll suppers, our Legion is hosting lobster rolls and chowder every Tuesday night, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., through the season. I know many aficionados of Grace Church lobster rolls. If you find it difficult to wait till Fridays, come see how the Legion’s measure up. I’ll see you there.

Town picnic at the Tashmoo Waterworks Monday, noon to four. Rowboats, ponies, music, free ice cream, grills to use. What more could you ask for? Sometimes, through our busy season, this is the only chance I have to catch up with my friends and neighbors and see how much their children have grown. Don’t miss it.

This is a big anniversary month for Cheryl Stark, the founding of C.B. Stark Jewelry many years ago. It is also Cheryl’s birthday month, and if I remember correctly, her wedding anniversary to Margie, which date escapes my mind. Bouquets and balloons to them!

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Cheryl Stark and Christian Keoni King today. May 29 is for Marina Kaufman. May 30 is shared by Maura Begley and Olivia Gomez Blanco. May 31 is claimed by Tamma Cimeno. June 1 honors Mary McPartlin. June 2 is a party for Robbie Hale, Louisa Luening, Al Koster, and Anna Nivala. And on June 3 Taylor Pierce, Myra Stark, Raiver de Costa, Chaya Rubenstein, Bill Blakesley, Arthur Battistini, and Justin Smith take the cake. Many happy returns.