NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Who knew when I was in New York visiting Iole, Ed Colligan, salad bar czar of Cronig’s, would choose that time to retire? Ed is one of my best stringers for this column. I certainly miss seeing him when I get my lunch. The gang he trained so well is still doing a great job. Shawn says Ed stops by frequently. Some people just aren’t meant to retire.

Welcome to the world, Athena Parker, new daughter of my Marine Corps friends John and JackLynn Parker. Athena joined big sister Angel and big brother Draco on March 2 at 13:48. JackLynn always gives me military time, you figure it out. Athena weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 18 inches long. Congratulations!

Author and artist Carol Carrick returned earlier from Florida this year to attend her son, Paul Carrick’s opening at Featherstone this week. Paul’s new children’s book, Watch Out for Wolfgang, and his previous book, Wired, are featured at the gallery from April 1 to April 15; a reception will be held on Sunday, April 5. You may pick up your autographed copy there. Wired explains to kids, and the rest of us, how electricity gets into our homes and used. I always thought it was magic.

Get out your tartans for the annual Tartan Day potluck supper on Monday, April 6, at the Federated Church in Edgartown. Our Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard is holding the event at 6 p.m. Bring a friend and a dish to share.

We have another way to share food. The Vineyard Committee on Hunger, in conjunction with the Family to Family program, would like you to sponsor one family for a complete Easter meal, including potatoes, onions, ham, all the fixings. The cost is $25, make your check out to VCOH and note in the memo, Family to Family. The donation is tax deductible. Mail to VCOH at P.O. Box 1874, Vineyard Haven. Several of our houses of worship and Reliable Market are working together to feed our Islanders. Contact Betty Burton at burtonsundman@hotmail.com or 508-693-5339 if you need more information.

Time to concentrate on advertising your business. Join the speakers at the Women’s Network of Martha’s Vineyard breakfast on Tuesday, April 7 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Baylies room of the Old Whaling church. Members and nonmembers are invited, early registration gets you a discount on your ticket, but walk-ins are welcome. Drop your check off at Ameriprise in Edgartown or Kiddo’s in the Tisbury Marketplace. The WNMV address is P.O.Box 4595, Vineyard Haven. It is always startling for me to read that Nancy Gardella is going to be one of the featured speakers. I feel so unprepared! Then I realize it’s not me at all, but chamber of commerce Nancy G.

Our Martha’s Vineyard Community Services has come up with a great way to raise money for their programs and help us all out. Tomorrow is electronics disposal day at their campus just across from the high school. Charges for items range from $1 to $30, with a special discount for car loads. The service will then dispose of the used electronics in an environmentally safe manner off-Island. Bring computers, monitors, cell phones, microwaves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, you get the picture. No charge for keyboards and mice. I’ll see you there.

Our library is jumping. Learn to knit or bring your projects if you already know how on the next four Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m. All ages are welcome.

Since the Tisbury School has early dismissal next Wednesday, Deb Costine’s Gerwick puppets will present Woodland Cinderella at 1 p.m. All ages are invited.

The library has continued Sunday opening for this weekend from noon to 4 p.m. The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are also holding a mini book sale that day from 1 to 3 p.m. Books, audio books, VHS movies, multigenerational items will be for sale.

Don’t miss Rick Karney of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group speaking next Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the library. This is part of the Menu for the Future series. Rick will talk about shellfish native to our waters and the work his group does seeding scallops, quahogs and oysters. Sounds delicious.

I regret to inform you that Iggy the iguana was found dead in his classroom, 306, at the high school last week. Science teacher Bill Schwabe and his saddened students gave Iggy a decent burial and had a small service. Iggy was beautiful, adorable and no trouble at all. He shall be greatly missed.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jim Reynolds, Denis Rogers, and Chrissie and Charley McCarthy today. Tomorrow belongs to Amber Willoughby, Sue Rice, and Tine Sonderby. April 5 is a party for Gary Mayrand, Tripta Bahal, Kinsman Mayrand, Gilbert Silvia, John Valley, Dan Fleming, and Julian David Burghoff. April 6 celebrates Kelsey Forend-Healy, Nancy Shemeth, and Ken Vanderlaske. April 7 is claimed by Muriel Gerhard. April 8 honors Simon Goldberg. And on April 9 April Cimeno, Nick Weyl and Laura Daly take the cake. Many happy returns.