Edgartown: Prom, a Marathon, and birthdays

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It was a big weekend on Martha’s Vineyard. Things were hopping! The prom was Saturday night, and I got to be part of the photo festivities this year, as Riley and Kiana are juniors and were attending the prom. Riley attended with Mary Morano, who looked stunning in a dress she made herself. And Kiana went with Cooper Bennett. The whole event is very different from when I went to my prom a million years ago. The vast majority of the kids seem to go just as a big group of friends, which is so nice. And my goodness, did they all look beautiful. The gowns were all so beautiful, classic, and tasteful. And the boys gave the girls a run for their money, dressed to the nines in their tuxedos. Gone are the days of Gunne Sax dresses and ruffles!

Also this weekend, you probably witnessed or got caught in, or maybe even ran, the first annual MV Marathon and Half-Marathon on Sunday. I was very impressed to see so many runners, considering that this was the first year.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Lukas Fenske and Channon Capra, physical education teacher extraordinaire, who celebrated on May 20; Janice Donaroma on May 22; and Emma Baldino, who will become a legal adult on May 24. And of course, I have to add my own baby girl, Amelia Craig, who turned 15 last weekend, on May 20. Where does the time go?

The Edgartown School second grade is holding its annual plant sale this week, May 25 through May 27, and next week, May 30 through June 1, from 2 until 4 at the school greenhouse. All proceeds benefit the Edgartown School Farm and Garden Program.

The annual March to the Sea will be on Friday, to show respect for all the men and women who have proudly served our country. The kids will kick off this special event at 1 pm at from the school parking lot, and march into town, where there will be speeches, poems, and songs shared with the public, followed by the tradition of seventh graders gathering all the flowers collected and tossing them into the harbor. In the event of rain, this ceremony is held in the school gym, and the flowers are delivered to the harbor later in the afternoon.

The Thirsty Thursday Runs are happening again. Join the Amity Island Running Club on Thursdays for a group run; pick your pace and distance. Start together and then hang out and have a beverage and stretch out. All paces and all fitness levels are welcome, including walkers. Start out at Bad Martha’s and head on down the bike path to State Beach and Big Bridge. Markers on the route help you pick a distance from 2 to 7 miles.

Nikki Sedacca Gallery is pleased to open for the summer 2017 season on Wednesday, May 26, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. The gallery will host a variety of exciting jewelry trunk shows and art shows throughout the season. Nikki Sedacca Gallery is located in Nevin Square at 17 Winter Street, and shows the work of numerous artists and jewelry designers.

Island history author Tom Dresser is scheduled to hold two book talks at the Anchors/Edgartown Council on Aging. The first is on Friday, June 2, at 1 pm and the second is Tuesday, June 6, at 7 pm. Both talks will be on his new book, “Hidden History of Martha’s Vineyard.” It focuses on five main topics, including unusual Vineyard names, the backstory of prominent Vineyard buildings, the Underground Railroad on the Vineyard, shipwrecks off Vineyard shores, and Vineyard graveyards. He has a PowerPoint presentation of slides from the book, and will happily answer questions and hear comments from interested participants.

Congratulations to all the recent Island college graduates. So far, courtesy of social media, I know I can send congratulations to Julia Cooper, daughter of Doug and Carla Cooper, a Colgate graduate, and Celia Mercier, daughter of Phil and Susan Mercier, who graduated from Smith College this weekend. If you’ve had a recent graduate and want to share the news, please be sure to let me know.

I wish you all a wonderful long Memorial Day weekend. Please remember that the holiday is meant to honor the men and women who have served our country, and isn’t just about barbecues and beach weather. Take a moment to think of those who have given so much for our freedoms. And then go out and enjoy the weekend. And smile at the influx of crazy drivers and visitors who will overtake our small island for a few days.

Enjoy!