NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Clara Rabbitt had the pleasure of a visit from her grandson, Jamie Felix, the week before school started. Jamie enjoyed seeing his cousins, Nick, Jacob, Summer and Christopher Cardoza, Paul and Christine Cardoza, and Mark and Melinda DeFeo of Edgartown. His brother Lee and sisters Naomi and Sarah attended the Farm Institute camp for two weeks in July. Their dad brought them over for the fair with their four-year-old young sister. The whole family had a great time together, a real thrill for Clara, who had not seen them in several months.

Great news from the Dickson household. Robert and Annemarie Dickson are proud to announce the marriage of their daughter, Maura, on Sept. 6. Maura married Theran Morrison, the son of Thomas and Rena Morrison of Oak Bluffs. The couple will reside in Shrewsbury.

Robert and Annemarie also have the pleasure of announcing the birth of their grandson, Robert Arthur Dickson, on June 18 at Newton Wellesley Hospital. Robert and Suzanne Dickson of Canton, are the happy parents. The Canton grandparents are Joan and John McLoughlin. Great-grandparents are our town’s Arthur and Priscilla Dickson and Helene Sullivan of Norwood. Congratulations to all!

My friend Leidi’s husband, Naromar DePaula, was turning a significant number, so I was invited to a lovely birthday party for him at their new home on Sept. 13. What would I do without the fabulous cooking of my Brazilian friends? The guests were fun, the ambiance terrific, and I was sent home with a great care package of Brazilian delicacies. Same time, next year.

Our library is showing the award- winning documentary Eyes on the Prize, over the next several Mondays at 7 p.m. We are fortunate to have civil rights activists Sheldon and Lucy Hackney with us for commentary. Part two is next Monday. I’ll see you there.

There is a slight, but wonderful, change in the children’s regular story hour at 11 a.m. next Tuesday. Instead of the usual tales and fables, Jennifer Lyonnaise will lead the group in yoga stories and teach and practice yoga postures with our little darlings, aged five and up. Regular story hour for the infants to toddlers remains unchanged at 10 a.m.

I was really looking forward to watching the national debates with the gang at our library. The plan is to open the doors to all debates, so those who don’t have cable, or just want to observe with a peanut gallery and, no doubt, lively commentary, may view this together. As of this printing, I shall say the debate is scheduled for 9 p.m. tonight and the library will let you in at 8:30 p.m. But after watching the news and seeing John McCain talking about canceling to return to Washington to deal with the financial crisis, I’m not sure. If you hear the debate is going on, feel free to join me at the library. I shall keep you posted on future debate dates.

Condolences go out to Peter Sanborn in Florida on the death of his mother, Ruth. I spoke with Peter last week. He is, of course, bereft, but sees her wonderful, long life as a tribute to her. Our best to Peter and all his family members. We really miss him here on Island.

Good news: Jim Hart has been released from the hospital in Florida and is, no doubt, writing his column for the Condo News. Stay out of trouble, Jim! As I wrote in my card to you, first, follow Trude’s directions, then your doctors’. If they both order the same protocol, lucky you.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jillian Guest and Calla Gillies today. Tomorrow is shared by Jason Lew, Stephen Serusa, and Pat Gardella. Sept. 29 honors Karen George. Sept. 30 is a party for Kandace Sylvia, Gay Smith, and Walter Burke. Oct. 1 belongs to Alyssa Mayrand and Allie Clark. And on Oct. 2 Mary Etherington and Bill Wingert take the cake. Many happy returns.