Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Jackson Pizzano, who celebrated on June 17, Sara Poggi and Meghan Sawyer, June 19, Lauren Boyd and Raven McCormack, June 20, and to Alexis Condon and Mackenzie Condon, who celebrate their day today, June 22.

 

Special birthday wishes to out to Jan Norton, who celebrated on June 20. She had a great day with daughter Deb and son-in-law Bill to help celebrate. They came on Sunday to help dad Floyd celebrate father’s day by taking him to brunch at the Harborview, and Deb cooked for Jan’s birthday on Wednesday. So it has been a special few days at the Norton household.

 

If you have missed seeing Rebecca Mayhew at Animal Health Care, she has opened a new place of her own. Husband Mike Hewitt built her a beautiful grooming facility with state-of-the-art tools. She is very proud of her new business, Sunstruck Grooming, which is at her home at 21 Bold Meadow Lane in Edgartown. You can reach Rebecca by calling 508-627-2211. Congratulations, Rebecca and good luck in your new business.

 

Theresa Yuan was at the nursery the other day and when she was paying for her order I noticed a picture of Emma and asked how she was doing. Now mind you, I am still picturing this little girl on a bike, riding around and tagging along with her mother in the stores. So when Theresa said she was living in New York and she is a model, my mouth dropped to the floor.

 

Seems that Emma has had a very successful modeling career, as she is a model for fitness and does many jobs for fitness clothing and magazines. She was just in the June issue of Runner’s World with a full page ad, as well as Cosmopolitan with a full page ad, and Bicycle Magazine. She has modeled Underarms and a few weekends ago she modeled bikinis for a classmate, Ashley Chase. When she has some downtime she does one event a year event for the theatre with other models. Her mom is very proud of her, and it is always nice to hear that an Island young person is doing so well.

 

Enough about the distinguished federal and Greek revival homes of Edgartown — have you experienced the tree tour?! Join collections and grounds manager Tom Clark for this informative and fun walking tour of the many glorious mature trees of Edgartown. In the midst of the mantle of green that envelops downtown Edgartown, the hydrangeas and picket fences, many unique and fine specimens of trees await discovery. Expect the famous pagoda tree and so much more! The tour will be Wednesday, June 27 (repeats Wednesday, August 22) from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 508-693-9426 to pre-register and for carpool and meeting location; cost is $20, $10 for Polly Hill Arboretum members.

 

The Martha’s Vineyard Library Association kicks off its summer reading program with a performance by the award-winning children’s recording artist Mr. G, at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 30. Mister G is Ben Gundersheimer, a former indie rocker who was awarded the first songwriting scholarship in the history of Berklee College of Music. He toured internationally for years prior to earning a master’s of education and becoming a full-time family musician and teacher. His most recent album, Bugs, was a 2011 Grammy nominee for best children’s album and was chosen by Parents Magazine as one of the best children’s albums of the year.

 

Admission to the show is $3, and babes-in-arms are free. Face-painting for $1 will be offered for half an hour before and after the morning show.

 

Dream Big: Read is the theme of the statewide summer reading program this year, and the six Island libraries all have summer children’s events planned. For details, call your library or visit its website.

 

 Lily Gazaille had a very adventurous day. As I was scanning the computer, I found a video of Lily sky diving. I don’t think I could do it, but I lived through her in the video, which was fantastic and you can see the view she was getting as she soared through the air. Good for you, Lily. I wish I were as brave as you are.

We have had the pleasure to have Mary Ellen Kresel here to visit for a few days. She has been on sort of a tour, as she left The Villages in Florida and went to Chicago to visit daughter Susan and son-in-law Jonathan Kaden and her grandsons, Ari and Ben. After a short stay there, she came to Massachusetts and visited her son Jon and daughter-in-law Courtney, then on the Harwichport to see cousins and her Aunt Jessie. Then it was on to the Island for a visit with her son Josh and, of course, her friends, us and Margaret and Bill Strafursky, then breakfast with friend Barbara Lopes, then back to Falmouth to visit more cousins, then back to Florida. Even though it was a short visit, it was great to have her back.

 

Congratulations to the Edgartown School eighth graders, who graduated from the school last Friday. I was afraid to look at the list of graduates, as I know these children are much too young to go to high school, as it was just yesterday they were born. Oh well, life goes on, and we wish you well in your next journey of school life.

 

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.