NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(iklean@yahoo.com)

Did you catch all three seconds of me on television Tuesday night? Remember Warhol said, “In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes?” Well, my three seconds of that was in the wonderful three-hour documentary on PBS about women’s progress in America in the last 50 years. I was very involved in the feminist movement, especially in the late 1960s and 1970s. I was a marshal in the first women’s March for Equality down Fifth avenue on August 26, 1970 — 50 years to the day after we won the right to vote. Those were exciting times. I really hope you saw the special, not so much for my part but for a well-written review of all we have been through, all we have gained and lost, and what has not yet been accomplished. I often tell teenage girls — to their utter amazement— that when I was growing up the local newspaper (as did all) listed jobs “help wanted male” and “help wanted female.” This documentary is a good primer for young people who take for granted the rights they enjoy now.

The Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center is showing two great films at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Our own Island filmmakers Robert and Marjory Potts have outdone themselves. The first, Making Music: The Emerson String Quartet, was mostly filmed in a house on Tashmoo in which the indefatigable Tom Goethals housed the quartet in 1982 when they were appearing at his Nathan Mayhew Seminars for a summer series. The second film is Their Lives in Art: Robert Henry and Selena Trieff. Suggested donation is $5, and what a price for such culture! I’ll see you there.

Good news at our library: the Art in the Stacks exhibit of Phyllis Dunn’s photography continues through the month of March. Phyllis vacationed here for 10 years then washed ashore and became a year-rounder. Her work has been shown at galleries in Connecticut and on-Island at the Anchors and at Featherstone. Most of this exhibit is of Vineyard scenes and themes. Check it out.

The state has designated certain funds for cultural districts and we are very pleased to be able to have our town, Vineyard Haven, considered for one. We need the input of citizens, organizations and town businesses at the meeting at the library on Thursday, March 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. David Nathans of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum is the chair. Please RSVP by Wednesday, March 6 by calling 508-627-4441 extension 122 or emailing dnathans@mvmuseum.org. Of course, I am always of the opinion that if you didn’t commit but then find you have a chance to attend, show up anyway. Our focus is to highlight cultural experiences for tourists in Vineyard Haven. I know you have ideas.

Our condolences to the family and friends of Robert Fullem, one of the nicest men I ever met. He died at his Vineyard home on Feb. 7, leaving his wife of 59 years, Elsbeth, four children and 10 grandchildren. His career as an attorney was outstanding. His special passion and contribution to the Island was his love of golf and his co-founding of the Farm Neck golf course. We shall all remember him dearly.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Nichole Daly and Maura Dickson today. Tomorrow is a party for Leide DePaula, Athena Verna Parker and Emily Bevis Rives. March 3 is claimed by Aaron LaPiana. March 4 honors Alison Ferreira, Sean George, Justin Eli and Michael Baptiste. March 5 belongs to Glen Andrews, Marguerite Hegarty and Wendy Andrews. March 6 shines on David and Doug Seward and Michael Preston. And on March 7 Jacob Murphy, Dick Cayer, Jesse John Seward and Louis Giordano take the cake. Many happy returns.