NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Say buon giorno to the Griffo family, here on Island from my Old Country! Vincenzo and Maria Griffo are from New Rochelle. Giuseppe and Dora brought their two kids, Vincenzo and Marco, from Mamaroneck, Vinnie and Anna brought John and Elizabeth from Port Chester. The Griffos discovered Storybook Island in 1990 and have made an annual pilgrimage ever since. The weather has cooperated beautifully this week. They have been to the Flying Horses, the beaches, the Gay Head Cliffs, the movies, and, when I last checked with them, they are hoping to get in some fishing time. We’ll look forward to their visit next year.

A very special choral evensong will be held on Sunday, July 20 at 5 p.m. at Trinity Church in Oak Bluffs. The combined choirs of St. Andrew’s, Grace Church, and Trinity will celebrate the lives of Bishop John Burgess and his wife, Esther. I’ll see you there.

Tomorrow is one of our three remaining hazardous waste collections until 2009. Chris Fried could use a volunteer to help at the Edgartown wastewater treatment facility. Call Chris at 508-693-7741 if you can assist with this valuable task.

I’m giving you a heads-up for next Friday night so you can mark your calendars. Delightful artist Rose Abrahamson will be showing her conjurings in acrylic and collage, along with Phil Wilson’s porcelain, at an opening reception at Shaw Cramer Gallery, 56 Main street. The reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. As always, Abbie Dreyer plays jazz piano.

Corbyn and I so enjoyed Jungle Book 2, a free presentation with popcorn, at our library last Wednesday. Another film slated for kids is on the program for Tuesday, July 22 at the Tabernacle. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is our Martha’s Vineyard Film Society’s offering in conjunction with several local environmental groups. This film series starts at 8 p.m. Doors open 45 minutes prior to show time. The animation is beautiful and the message is strong. Bring the kids and see what we all can do to help the environment.

What more favorite environmentalist do we know than our own Gus Ben David? Our Vineyard Haven Public Library is offering interviews and show-and-tell with Gus’s live animals on Thursday, July 24 at 4 p.m. for ages 5 and up. This is a great treat for your visiting grandchildren.

The Vineyard Nursing Association presents its annual clambake and fundraiser at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23 at the Field Gallery in West Tisbury. Our Market has kindly donated the libations and the Martha’s Vineyard Clambake Co. has donated the dinner. A silent auction is offered, along with the inimitable Ken Goldberg handling the live auction. Don Groover and Train Wreck provide the music. Vineyard Sound, our a capella group, will put on a show. Call 508-696-0785 for tickets or visit vineyardnursing.org.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Joe and Shirley Sullivan on July 20.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Margaret Tileston, Ben Araujo, Fred Kingsley, and Paige Donovan today. Tomorrow is claimed by Kenny Hayes. July 20 belongs to Jane Crews, Danielle, Jacobs, and Gabriela Silva. July 21 is shared by Gretchen Huntley Jacobs and Brian Hurley. July 22 is a party for Ed Colligan, Katherine Anderson, Jenny Lehman, Nicole Christopher and Bekki Willems. July 23 is for Sapna Bahal and Tyler Burt. And on July 24 Judy Gersh Worthington, Millie Gerber Lockington and Lilly Clark take the cake. Many happy returns.