RICK HERRICK

508-693-8065

herricklr@verizon.net

One of the first people in the United States to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, A.J. Rowling’s first book in the Harry Potter series, was Sally Lodge Randall. In fact, it’s hard to purchase a children’s book that Sally hasn’t read. She writes prepublication reviews of children’s books for Publisher’s Weekly, the trade magazine for booksellers and libraries.

The Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs will bring back the dynamic Jensen brothers, Murphy and Luke, for the third annual Martha’s Vineyard Tennis Open benefit on August 22 and 23.

The brothers, formerly French Open doubles champions, will play with the lucky bidders in a pro-am competition on Saturday and also run the popular tennis clinics. The entire weekend proceeds are going to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, a nonprofit organization that offers financial aide and support to Islanders in need with cancer.

KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

I just looked at the calendar and realized that next week is the fair and fireworks. That means the stores will soon be displaying help wanted signs and the college students will soon be leaving and of course the rest that goes along with this time of season.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons to my great niece Rianna who celebrated her day August 11, and to Tim Bettencourt who celebrated his day August 13.

JO-ANN TILGHMAN

508-627-7669

Tilghmanjb@aol.com

The Built on Stilts Community Dance Festival celebrates its 12th year with seven nights of free performances August 15 to 19, 23 and 24 at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs.

Tastes of Tashmoo

Months of planning and organizing culminated in a recent party to benefit the Tashmoo Spring Building Preservation Fund.

The event was held at the home of Denys and Marilyn Wortman on Hines Point in Vineyard Haven. Mr. Wortman, a Tisbury selectman, is a member of Tisbury’s Tashmoo Spring Building Preservation Committee. This was the second annual Tastes of Tashmoo fundraiser.

Food and drink were donated by numerous Island businesses.

Dike Walk

The Trustees of Reservations will lead a free morning hike at the cedars today, Friday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m. The walk begins at the Dike Bridge on Chappaquiddick and will continue to East Beach bathing beach, then north to the Cedar Forest. The loop is approximately one mile. The walk is over the sand and is considered strenuous. For active adults only, please.

Tripp Arrives

Hope Tripp and David Murphy of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Tripp Mason Murphy, on August 6 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Tripp weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces at birth.

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Mosquitoes and fleas the size of horses, stores are running out of boric acid! Even with the new meds for pets to control fleas and ticks, I guess this very moist summer has flummoxed the plan. I hope you’re coping, and Fido, too.

John S. Alley>

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

We have received well over four inches of rain in the monsoons of the past few days. It should more than compensate for the lack of rainfall in July. We also were treated to thunder and lighting storms Sunday and Monday. Tomorrow is the beginning of a sales tax-free weekend on a lot of items; please check with the store for the exempted goods.