NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

What is there not to say about a great lady, Katharine (Kay) Tweed, who died at her Northern Pines home last Tuesday night? Katharine was the glue that held so many organizations together, including S.P.A.Y which she founded here on Island. She brought the famous Isabella White from Scotland, the rest is Scottish Bakehouse history. She supported and waxed loquacious over numerous interesting projects and subjects. Today, this newspaper’s glossy, the Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, comes out with a full story on Kay Tweed. Our Island has lost another great one.

I have always known so many of our denizens are over-qualified. I was getting new sneakers at Trader Fred’s on Main street when I had the good fortune to meet his scintillating sales woman, Bella Felipe. Bella speaks Portuguese, English and Italian. She is an accomplished playwright, songwriter and puppeteer. Bella just wrote and produced Pinocchio: Il Bambino de Vero, which was presented last weekend. It was magical. Look for a repeat performance this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the warehouse behind 56 Main street, and bring something to sit on.

Chris Murphy and Jim Newman want you to know there will be a reunion and potluck tomorrow, Nov. 14, for Peace Corps volunteers and staff. Call Chris at 508-693-6610 for details.

Our seasonal resident Jim Hart writes from Florida that last weekend a reunion was hosted for the 8th Air Force Historical Society. Jim has served as president of his chapter for the past eight years. Reunions are becoming more difficult as the aging of the vets prevents a lot of long trips and driving. The famous 8th Air Force division was responsible for taking down Germany in World War II with a great loss of our men and planes. Jim served for five years in naval aviation in the Korean conflict. If you haven’t thanked a vet for his or her service yet this week, remember to do so.

Serving Hands (formerly surplus foods) needs donations for its annual Thanksgiving meal for Islanders who qualify. Reliable Market is putting together scrumptious Thanksgiving baskets of turkey and all the trimmings. One family meal costs only $25. If you can donate, send your check to the Vineyard Committee on Hunger (VCOH), P.O. Box 1874, Vineyard Haven 02568. Note in the memo it is for the Family to Family Program. Thank you all.

Amy Ryan reminds us that our library is open on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Librarian Cecily Greenaway is presenting a very special program there at 1 p.m. this Sunday, Nov. 15, called Getting Started on Ancestry.com Library Edition. Admission is free, but it is recommended that you bring first, middle and last names of those you wish to learn more about, as well as birth and death dates. If you have your own laptop, bring that, too. Amy informed me that the next mini-book sale at the library is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21. These have been very successful Bring your books to donate this week.

Remember Tuesday is our town’s special town meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Tisbury School. There is a lot to decide, most importantly the proposal for a new EMS facility and its $6.8 million price tag. See you there.

The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club will hold its final meeting for this year at the Wakeman Center on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. The theme is Holiday Creations. Garden club members attend for free, all others are invited for $5. Call 508-693-5334 for details.

I got my flu shot at the high school on Wednesday. I was going to walk or take the bus but laziness and the thought that as a reporter I should experience the new system had me doing the musical car thing. The jury is still out but I am conducting an informal survey. First, I want to thank all the wonderful volunteers and all the pleasant professionals. From what I have overheard so far, in conjunction with my own thoughts, a few phrases pop into mind: “much ado about nothing,” “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and “an exercise in futility.” My Portuguese is far from perfect; I was completely exhausted trying to explain to my Brazilian friends how to use the new system. Now that we have had our practice for a nuclear disaster, may we please return to the old system?

Continue to pray with me for Stephanie Berryman and Penha Prata.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Lisa Quartiroli and Rosemary Jackson today. Tomorrow belongs to John Gardella, Alfred Francis and Ellison Brasil. Nov. 15 is a party for Sarah Benson, JackLynn Pinkerton Parker, Judy Andrews and Jo-Ann Walker. Nov. 17 is claimed by Dori Clark and Tessa Rose Whitaker. Nov. 18 is for Katie Lolley, Sarah Thompson and Sam Sawyer. And on Nov. 19 Jo Burton, Jenny Coito, Linda Voluckas, Michael Mortell and John Athearn take the cake. Many happy returns.