NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Paffendorf’s back and the town of Tisbury has her! Chris Paffendorf, our much-loved former neighbor on Lenny’s Loop, has just crossed the country from New Mexico, her new abode, and is visiting for two weeks with Paul and Marge Howes. She arrived with much fanfare in her red convertible, top down of course, last Tuesday night. Paul and Marge hosted a wonderful dinner in her honor. Those in attendance were neighbors Carrie and Ed, Jim and Trude Hart, Iole and this reporter, and Mike Cook stopped by. Chris has wasted no time catching up with us and her many Island friends, beaching, and shopping. Since my mother had her first Harley ride two weeks ago, I now see an opportunity for her to have her first ride in a convertible. We will have to cram this in before the storm. Chris has also brought her ukulele so you may hear us warbling on a neighborhood hootenanny. Welcome back.

Welcome also to seasonal residents Lou Jannace and Lisa Quartiroli. They have flown out from California to their Island home just in time for Irene. Never lacking for friends, they have brought sisters Carla and Angela Quartiroli, both of California, and our friend dear enough to be a sister, Marianne Herzog of Boston. Sightseeing, beaching, shopping, partying. I wish I were on vacation! Cousins Joe and Virginia Jannace Malara are expected to join them tomorrow, traveling from Waccabuc, N.Y. I hope they arrive before the boats stop running.

Congratulations to Leide DePaula and her young son, Naromar. Their four chickens were entered in the fair and they won the blue ribbon. I can also attest that the eggs are delicious. Same time, next year.

My mother is becoming a bag lady. She has found the perfect souvenir for her friends and family right at our Vineyard Haven Public Library. The blue tote bags are still available and make an excellent gift in these recycle times. Iole has acquired 32 of them so far. She also whipped through Amor Towles’s new fiction sensation, Rules of Civility, so we can pass it back to the rest of you on the list.

Congratulations to my nephew, Jonathan Alexander Gardella, a 13-year-old who plays a variety of instruments. Jonathan attended a music festival in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend and played the violin. His photo made front page of the Fort Myers News Press, I am anxiously awaiting a copy.

I just loved my friend Linda Alley’s quote in last Saturday’s New York Times when the press asked her if she was enjoying the better cell phone reception in West Tisbury now that the president was here. Check it out.

Apparently, much of the press corps is housed at the Mansion House and broadcasting from the cupola during our President’s visit. If this makes you yearn to return to the Vineyard, Sherm and Susie will be offering some inexpensive bookings for September. We all know September is the best month here anyway. The Obamas should visit then, but of course the girls have school.

Our sympathy goes out to Gerry Averill and family on the death of Preston. Preston was a real stand-up guy, one of the hardest workers, funniest, and most honest men you would ever want to meet. This is a big loss for our community.

Technologically thwarted again! I’m having trouble with my computer so I’m writing at the library and, goodness, I left the birthday book at home. I can only remember a few of the most important upcoming ones; here they are and please, the rest of you forgive me.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Cheyenne and her dad, Joe Cormier ,tomorrow. On August 30 Monique Cormier and Laura Honey take the cake. Many happy returns.