NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(iklean@yahoo.com)

Welcome back to Jim and Trude Hart who spent a wonderful vacation touring our northern states. They had dreamed of seeing our country. I wonder where they’ll go next? So long to Kim Beal and her kids; they left last Monday. Kim was able to pack in clamming, celebrating both sons’ birthdays, beaching, and accompanying the boys Christian and Quinn and daughter Lilly on hikes. If you are looking for Kim off-season, go to the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Conn., and let her give you a tour. Meanwhile, Kim’s parents, Bill and Jan Stokes, are back at their Island retreat.

If you preregister for the 16th Annual 5K Race and Kids’ Fun Run you are eligible for a T-shirt. You can register at vhlibrary.org or pick up forms at the library. The race is Sept. 15.

Uta at Island Art Gallery sent me a beautiful poster of the annual car show taking place on our Main street this Sunday between 1 and 5 p.m. She is also pleased to announce that she is showing Michael R. Blanchard’s canvas giclees. One of the largest is of the Gay Head cliffs and lighthouse. Michael is donating his Lobsterville Osprey to the silent auction for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard this Saturday. But do stop in; it is always a treat to see what Uta and Doug have done with their framing.

I was so busy last week I neglected to put a confidential in to Lyn K. I did have the good fortune to run into her, though. Here is this week’s reading list: I finished Autism by Dr. Robert Mellilo, and a charming book, If It’s Not One Thing It’s the Mother by Julia Sweeney. You might remember Julia Sweeney as one of the Saturday Night Live players. She was the androgynous Pat. Nonna is reading Ann Perry and the Murder of the Century by Peter Graham.

Get well to all my many friends who ended up in the emergency room last week — you know who you are! I might as well take a cot at the hospital to greet all my friends coming in. They have all rated our hospital with great excellence, care and ambience. Best bed and breakfast on Martha’s Vineyard!

Anniversary bouquets go out to Clare Ann Harrington and Ed Mossey today. Ralph Graves and Mareda Gaither-Graves celebrate on Sept. 1.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Laura Honey, Monique Cormier, and Greta Kotova today. Tomorrow is a party for Jessica Dolliver, Tanita Macy, Jim Pringle Jr., and Van Morrison. Sept. 2 shines on Joanne Beattie and Brandon and Lindsay Smith. Sept. 3 is for Gabrielle Jobert, Judy Bitgood, Tessa Grant, Leigh Anne Searle, Stuart Bangs and Christine Geddis. Sept. 4 is shared by Chelsea Leigh Mercier and Tyler Mayst. And on Sept. 5, Leda Giatti and Stephanie Knight take the cake. Many happy returns.