Editors, Vineyard Gazette;
What a wonderful day of mahjong, friendship, and community spirit. On Oct. 17, MV Center for Living hosted its first annual mahjong tournament at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury. Sixty enthusiastic players came together for a sold-out day of friendly competition, laughter, and new connections. Thanks to the generosity of so many, we raised approximately $10,000 to support older adults living with dementia and the families and caregivers who love them.
Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who helped make this first tournament such a success. Morning Glory Farm and Black Dog Bakery generously provided delicious baked goods and coffee. We are also grateful to the local businesses that contributed raffle prizes: The Beach House, Maggie’s Salon, Miss Mary Boutique Spa, Debbie Hale Pottery, Middletown Nursery, Barbara Reynolds Photography, with framing by Peter Trani and Black Sheep.
A very special thank-you goes to our 15 wonderful “Easts,” who kept the games moving, helped with scoring, and made everyone feel welcome. We appreciate all our players, many of whom were playing for the first time. We also thank our Island libraries and senior centers for helping mahjong flourish across Martha’s Vineyard.
Congratulations to our tournament winners: Vicki Bologna, first place; Stacey Goldfarb, second place; and Michelle Jasny, third place. And congratulations to every player who joined us, especially those experiencing their first tournament.
What made the day truly special wasn’t just the mahjong. It was the friendships, the laughter and the wonderful reminder of what happens when our Island community comes together for a good cause.
We are already looking forward to next year.
With warmest thanks,
Mary Holmes, executive director, Katie Vieira, executive assistant MV Center for Living; Erica Dinerman, Barbara Reynolds and Sue Trani: tournament directors.