Yes, I did it. Last Thursday evening I took the ALS ice bucket challenge. My young friend Cheyenne Cormier nominated me and I had 24 hours to do it. Since we don’t have an ice maker in our freezer, Teri asked Paul and Marge Howes for use of theirs. It was determined the event would take place on their deck with Paul doing the honors. In the peanut gallery background of my great moment were Bill and Jan Stokes, Margery Howes and Nonna, with Paul up front carrying out a long-held dream of his — video by Teri. As soon as we find a young person to upload it, you can view it too.

In turn, I challenged Paul Howes and Laurie Marotta. I also nominated Kara Best and Hunter Thomas if they could not attribute the quote I finished my speech with (hint: spoken by fictional attorney Sidney Carton). I recommend you all fulfill your bucket challenges before the weather gets much colder.

In case you missed it, don’t miss it. The celebration of Ed Colligan’s life will commence on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine’s with a mass of Christian burial. This will be followed by a graveside service. Then on to the Ag Hall to remember this unforgettable man.

Our library holds its Fun Run Walk/Race this Sunday, Sept. 14. The money raised is used for our wonderful array of programs. Don’t forget to register. I’ll see you there.

I am reminding you that my friend Whitney at Martha’s Vineyard Holistic Retreats is offering a $500 discount for those detoxers who bring a friend. This is a great time of year to get back to the way you wished you had lived all summer. Visit mvholisticretreat.com or call 1-888-667-6198.

Our library reminds you to study up on Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace for the six-part lecture series which begins on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. The Alexander Griswold Cummins professor at Swarthmore, Philip Weinstein, will deftly lead you through this classic on Sept. 17, Oct. 1, 15, 29, Nov. 12, and Dec. 3. All are at the same time and place and all are free. The library has many copies of the book reserved for you.

World travelers Lew Whitaker and Dr. Joan Poultney had never been to Fantasy Island. They live in Wilton, Conn., two houses away from Paul and Marge in New Canaan, Ct., so nothing would do but to invite them here to see one of the few places on earth they had never stepped. Paul and Marge did what they do best, played tour guides. The couple enjoyed Chilmark Chocolates, the Artisans’ Fair, Menemsha Dock, the charm of Edgartown, the new information stand and view at Aquinnah, sights of Cuttyhunk and the Elizabethan Islands, and lunch at the Right Fork Diner on a cloudy day when they could not view planes overhead. Joan is still working as a psychotherapist specializing in kids, individuals and couples therapy. Lew is retired from the transportation business, having spent years moving 18-wheelers from New York to California, New York to Florida, and New York to Puerto Rico. To Puerto Rico? Yes, they were jets with 18 wheels. Who knew?

Today the birthday bandwagon pulls along Becky Masi, Dylan Dyke, Roberto Salaverria and Lauri McNamara. Sept. 13 is a party for John McCarthy, Clara Rabbitt, Tootie Strople Kieffer, Toby Wilson, Danielle Truscott and Naromar De Paula. Sept. 14 shines on Lynn White, Geraldine Brooks and Rebecca Isabel Sherr. Sept. 15 honors Will Felder, Heather McElhinney and Alycelee Pigman-Rayfield. Sept. 16 smiles on Carolyn Snow Redington, Mary Kennedy, Dashiell Pinto Kaufman, Joalser Nascimento, and Lyuda. Sept. 17 is for Joanna Elliot Riesman and Chloe Ebanks. And on Sept. 18 Aaron Kasprak takes the cake. Many happy returns.

Send your Vineyard Haven news to iklean@yahoo.com.