The Lonesome West, a play by award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh, is being performed at the Katharine Cornell Theatre this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Kristian Seney is directing, and the cast includes Chris Brophy, Rob Myers, Katharine Pilcher and Xavier Powers.
Hamilton College Dean’s List
Genevieve Flanders, the daughter of Joy and Steven Flanders of Chilmark, and Samantha Rabin, the daughter of Karen and Steve Rabin of Edgartown, have been named to the dean’s list at Hamilton College for the fall 2008 semester.
Bridewater State Dean’s List
Colleen Campbell was recently named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 term at Bridgewater State College. She is the daughter of Ruth and Scott Campbell of West Tisbury, and is majoring in sociology.
Anna and Jim Greene of West Tisbury announce the birth of a daughter, Floreana Jade Greene, born on Feb. 18, 2009, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Floreana weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. She is welcomed by her big sister, Tikopia Greene.
Alishay Arrives
Brigette Gibson and Moe Johnson of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Alishay Marie Johnson, born on Feb. 2, 2009, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Alishay weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces at birth.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest and largest United States grassroots based civil rights organization. It was founded on Feb. 12, 1909, by a multi-racial, multi-ethnic group of progressive thinkers and activists of varying political and religious backgrounds including Ida Wells Barnett, W.E.B. Dubois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, and William English Walling. They came together and all were committed to forming an organization dedicated to answering the call of justice.
Witness to the Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, by Barbara Bick, The Feminist Press, $14.99.
History has left us the chronicles of a number of intrepid women of the West who have traversed the Near and Middle East. In this tradition, but surpassing it in many ways, Barbara Bick of Vineyard Haven has written Walking the Precipice: Witness to the Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, a testimony for our time. It is a lucid, passionate and at times harrowing political book written on behalf of the women of Afghanistan.
The Vineyard is an ideal place for stargazing, and of course comet-gazing. The skies are dark, and unlike in urban and suburban areas on the mainland, light pollution is not a problem.
Comet Lulin is fast-moving. Last week, the comet resided in the zodiacal constellation Virgo. This week it resides in Leo and next week it moves into Cancer. That is a lot of space to cover.
Sometime around Christmas a letter appeared in the Gazette from a “lapsed Methodist.” I’ve thought of it on and off for the past few months as I pondered what was the point in keeping open and attending the Chilmark Community Church, which happens to be Methodist. Could doing good while serving on community boards replace the experience of church going as the lapsed Methodist suggested? My friends asked, “Why do you bother with going to church, especially when it is such a hassle?”
KEEP HOSPICE SEPARATE
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
I am not surprised to hear that the Vineyard Nursing Association is adding Medicare hospice services, even though they have been assuring the board and directors of Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard for several years that they are not. It is vital to recognize the difference in the level of care being offered by the VNA and Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. It would be better for this community if these apples are not all in one big VNA basket.
Angels of the Morning
Why does the Vineyard Nursing Association want to get into the hospice business, when there is already a hospice on the Island?
The answer is not completely clear yet.