NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

The street fair returns tonight! Therefore, for this one day only, Grace Church lobster rolls will be on sale from 1 to 5 p.m. at the church, so as not to interfere with the fair.

The Berman family has once again returned to celebrate the Fourth of July on-Island. Grandparents Allan and Michele welcomed Greg and Carolyn Berman from Brooklyn who brought the two granddaughters, 12-year-old Hannah and nine-year-old Milly. I remember when Hannah was three and cutting grass with scissors! The gang arrived in time for the parade and fireworks in Edgartown. Joining them are cousins Charlie, age three, and Teddy, age two, from Washington. The boys’ parents, M.J. and Annie Lou Berman could not make the trip because they welcomed twin daughters, Nell and Scottie, to the family on July 1. The boys are planning horseback riding and shell discoveries on the beach. Next summer there will be six Berman cousins to celebrate the Fourth on Island!

John Wightman’s classic Island Images show will debut at the Bank of Martha’s Vineyard in Chilmark tomorrow, July 9, and run through July 15 during bank business hours. However, the best party and reception ever for an opening will be at the bank tomorrow night from 5 to 8 p.m. And Nonna and I will be there. John’s Vineyard landscapes are well known, and this year are being offered in watercolor, on canvas, and ceramic tiles in a variety of sizes at special summer pricing. I’ll see you there.

The Stone Soup Leadership Institute is holding its second annual Walter Cronkite Awards on Sunday, July 17, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church, absolutely free. Call 617-304-7821 or e-mail soup4world@gmail.com for reservations and more information.

The Performer’s Workshop has already started summer rehearsals. Pianist James Ian Nie arrived from Wisconsin on July 4, and Mareda Gaither-Graves was here to welcome him. Some of our favorite singers are back, Mary Lane Cobb and Pat West. New this year is Vivian Williams from Tennessee. So far the scheduled shows look like this: Windermere at 3:30 p.m. on July 14 — and you are all welcome — at the Tisbury Senior Center at 1:30 p.m. on Friday July 15, and the always-popular cabaret at the Grace Church on Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are free and you may make a donation. Iole and I will see you there.

The library continues with great summer programs and wants to remind you that it’s not too late for grown-ups to sign up for the adult summer reading program. In addition, Sue Guiney has written a novel based on her work in 2006 in a Cambodian orphanage. She is presenting her film, A Clash of Innocents, about Cambodia’s children, on Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. in the program room of the library. The next evening, Wednesday, also at 7 p.m., William Sargent presents his book, The Well from Hell, about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. These sound like two very exciting programs; both are free.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Steve and Judy Nichols on July 9.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jordan Stallings today. July 9 is a party for Matt Lobdell, Gloria Mendez, Nancy Hoffmann, Richard Clark, Bruce Bailey, Nathan Herrick and Betty Cormier. July 10 is shared by Russell Burroughs, Orla O’Connor, and Ketlyn Alves. July 11 belongs to Mary Fuller, Dennis White, and Denny Freitas. July 12 is for Marfi Gagnon and Veraniece Martins. July 13 honors Nancy MacPartlin Gardella, Jaron Schilling, Thomasina Petrone, Karen Lobdell, Nevenka Daniels, and Talula Goldberry Martin. And on July 14 Bob Wheeler and Alana Majors take the cake. Many happy returns.