NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

School’s out! So Bridget Slomka, granddaughter of Marge and Paul Howes of Vineyard Haven, wasted no time getting on a plane from Phoenix and heading to Logan, where Paul met her and brought her down to the Island last night. Bridget had spent one year here in the Tisbury School before moving to Kentucky, now to Arizona, so she is looking forward to connecting with her old young friends.

Two of our sweetest people have left us. I was sad to read that Peter Sanborn, so long a fixture in our community, died in Florida last week. Gretchen Jacobs was one of the most beautiful and kindest women I ever met. Her children are a tribute to her. Both of these Islanders will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

The Mansion House is offering discounts, with free breakfasts, sunrise yoga and use of the health club, between July 4 and July 14. What a time of season for a bargain! Call 800-332-4112 or visit mvmansionhouse.com.

Tomorrow has a lot of activities for you. Historian Jim Norton will speak at the Katharine Cornell Theatre at 11 a.m. on the stories behind some of our landmark Vineyard Haven houses. This will be followed by a tour of the grand homes, with lobster roll luncheon provided at Grace Church. The tour takes place between 1 and 4 p.m. Jim’s talk and the tour is $45. Tour only is $35. A special patrons’ tour, including champagne, is $100. Call the Martha’s Vineyard Museum at 508-627-4441, or visit mvmuseum.org to save your spot.

If art is more of your thing, catch John Holladay’s talk on his special sports art exhibit at the Louisa Gould Gallery at 54 Main street tomorrow. Some of his Fenway Park and New York Giants works are available.

The regular lineup of kids’ programs — story hours on Tuesday, crafts on Thursdays, Chess Club and all — are back for the summer. The summer reading program is ready to start; register on Monday, June 27. This year, not only children and teens, but grownups are invited to join the summer reading program. All age groups are eligible for prizes – ice cream, T-shirts, free books. Read on!

On Tuesday, June 28, at 7 p.m. in the program room of the library there will be a special talk: Beach Nesting Birds: A Peep Show. Some of the babies have started to hatch. I’ll see you there. The program room is also the location on Thursday night, June 30 at 7 p.m. of a film screening and discussion, Welcome to Shelbyville. This is about a small southern town that has rapidly changing demographics with an increased and diverse immigrant population. And after absorbing all these library programs, don’t forget that the last Saturday of each month features mahjong from 2 to 4 p.m.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Allan and Michele Berman today. Congratulations to Len and Georgia Morris and to Phil and Gail Derick, who celebrate years of wedded bliss on June 27.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Frank T. Bailey, Vanessa Williams and Hamilton Walker today. Tomorrow is a party for Carly Simon, Camilla Balbino, Ashley Willoughby, Suzanne Webb, Jack O’Callaghan and Eva Lemoine. June 26 honors Eileen Whiting and Charlie Mead. And on June 29, John Doyle, Flavia Stanley, Alexander Douglas Grant and Lynn Weber take the cake. Many happy returns.