What a beautiful weekend we just had. Bright sunshine and a warm breeze provided the perfect atmosphere for…yard work. It was home improvement projects galore over at my house: ripping weeds, stripping paint, and assembling outdoor furniture. My black car is feeling the spring vibe, parading around under a fresh coat of light yellow color, amply provided by the pollinating oak trees.
We did manage to get the top off the Jeep and let the air out of the tires for a ride out on Norton Point Beach. It was a bit windy, but with the company of my parents; Coo and Donna Cavallo; Jon, Jack, and Dee Laird; Charlie, Charlie, and Mary Morano; and some friends from other Island towns, we made a party of it.
We’ve had an important week of sporting events, cementing a current common love of the Celtics and disappointment toward the Bruins. Sandwiched between the various Boston championship games was one of my favorite two minutes of sports: the Preakness Stakes horse race. There was a good group present at The Wharf for the requisite two minutes of yelling at the screen. Among others were Mick Vukota, John Magnuson, and Glen Searle. Alas, the horse I picked, First Dude, did not win, though he did lead much of the race, resulting in a bar full of people yelling “Go Dude!” Enjoyable in itself.
“Trader” Fred Mascolo has just returned from a trip to Panama. A highlight of the trip was a visit to the Panama Canal. Fred shared pictures, of the lock system that transports boats through the canal, which were quite impressive.
A big bouquet of spring blooms go out to Janice Donaroma, who celebrates her birthday Saturday, May 22. If it’s nice out, we’ll probably all be out working in our yards, the perfect way to commemorate Janice’s day.
The Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group’s annual spring gala takes place tonight from 6 to 9 pm at Mediterranean in Oak Bluffs, with music provided by Mike Benjamin. The Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group is in its 24th year helping Vineyarders by providing meetings for cancer patients and their families as well as financial assistance to Island cancer patients in need. For more information, contact Myra Stark at 508-693-8296.
Congratulations to the Reverend Michael R. Nagle, Pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish, for being awarded a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd degree at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.
The 17th annual Oak Bluffs Memorial Day Road Race will take place on Sunday, May 30, to benefit Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, starting with a one-mile fun run at 10:30 am, followed by the main event, the 5K Walk and 5K Race, which kicks of at 11 am. For information, please call Roger Wey at 508-693-7887.
My thoughts are with Gary and Beth Smith for the loss of their beautiful daughter, Alison. I remember Alison from when we were all little kids, running around downtown, with nothing better to do than hit up our parents for money to spend on penny candy at the Ice Cream Candy Bazaar. She will be missed by many.
I’ve received an email from Betsy Burmeister, the Recreation Director at Windemere Nursing and Rehab, who is planning a surprise party for Mary Fisher. Mary was a teacher at the Edgartown School from 1929 to 1970 and will be turning the remarkable age of 103. If you were a student of Mary’s, go celebrate with her. The party will be held Monday, May 24, at 2 pm in the Windemere Garden. For more information, contact Betsy, at 508-696-6465 ext. 722. Don’t forget it’s a surprise. (In case you’re concerned, I’ve been assured that my posting it here will not ruin this.)
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum is hosting a Volunteer Open House tonight from 5 to 7 pm at the Museum. Stroll through new exhibits, meet the staff, enjoy a beverage, and learn about exciting volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are an integral part of the Museum team all year long. The rotating exhibits, multi-building campus, and more than 30 summer events are made possible through the help of volunteers, so consider stopping by to see what this Vineyard institution is all about. For more info, call 508-627-4441 ext. 123.
One more weekend before Memorial Day Weekend, when the summer season officially begins. So congrats, all, for making it through yet another Vineyard winter. I hope you all enjoy this last weekend before we all hit the ground running on another Vineyard summer.
