My granddaughters have been enjoying Nana camp. They love the programs at our library. Last week they painted on white T shirts provided by the library. The younger girl called her mother for permission to paint the black tee she was wearing. After permission was granted, brilliant orange and green and pink squiggles made a grand design against the dark background. The girls were especially happy with the fact that some of the paints glow in the dark.
The girls also had a good time with the classes at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, so much more handy now in our town as well. One day they studied constellations and made a mini star-filled sky in a jar, lit from inside with a small plastic candle. Each day they had a new project to bring home and share. You should see the boxes they made decorated with shells and such.
Tonight at the Vineyard Playhouse, the tickets for the show called “77%” are $25, at the door on the night of the show, cash only. In this drama the wife is out of town closing a big business deal, the husband just blew his last job, the kids are acting up, and his mother-in-law just moved in. Did you guess that this is a play about modern marriage?
This evening is Featherstone’s final Jazz Night, featuring Steve Tully from 6:30 to 8 pm. Cost is $10, $5 with Island Club, and kids under 14 are free.
Rep. Tim Madden has helped by getting legislation passed to reduce the number of plates needed to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and other island nonprofits. Instead of the 1,500 orders previously needed, the number is only 750. There are already 700 ordered. Can you help support Martha’s Vineyard Community Services? Each specialty license plate costs $40; in addition, there is a $20 fee when you turn in your old plate. Google MV license plate for more.
The Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Senior Minister of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the spiritual home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will be preaching at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury this Sunday. This will be Rev. Warnock’s seventh summer preaching here. The congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church welcomed the Rev. Cathlin Baker last spring.
This is the time of year when heavy traffic seems to overwhelm the Island. We are honored to have the President and family join us, although we know the Secret Service and news people add even more cars. Years ago we had a young lady visitor who kept asking how we would know when the weight of the cars would make the Island sink. She was convinced the Island was simply floating on the ocean.
The Berlin/Johnson Jazz Duo and Friends perform next Tuesday at the Grange Hall at 7:30 pm to benefit the West Tisbury library. Island artists Eric Johnson on guitar and Jeremy Berlin on piano will be joined by Taurus Biskis on drums and Joshua Levine on acoustic bass. Doors open at 7 pm. Tickets are at the West Tisbury Library and at Tisberry FroYo, $15 for adults and half-price for kids 12 and under.
Next Wednesday at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, enjoy “Digging for Fire” at 7:30 pm. Painful portrayals of new parents on the verge of a nervous breakdown will ring true to anyone who has ever juggled parenthood while trying to keep a marriage exciting. Then at the same time and place next Thursday is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” to remind you that once a year, there is a day of midsummer madness. This is the time when what happens in the realm of shadow and dream can distort the ordinary, everyday world.
A week from Saturday, on August 22, see “Island Women in Portrait” at Stina Sayre Design on Main Street. Elizabeth Whelan has spent the past few months at her studio in the Elizabeth Islands capturing Vineyard women in oils on canvas: Stephanie Mashek, Karen Finley,Tara Kenny, and Geraldine Brooks. Whelan will also present new landscapes and recent portraits of Julie Robinson, Mikel Hunter, Stina Sayre, Howie Attebery, Nat Benjamin, Ross Gannon, and Eli Dagostino.
Happy anniversary to Skip and Carol Bailey, who celebrate tomorrow.
Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to Goodie Stiller Corriveau. Birthday greetings go out tomorrow to Braden Kuehne. Larry Levine and Kathy Welch party next Tuesday. Wednesday belongs to Jeff Damon Pratt and Alistair Rizza.
Heard on Main Street: Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.
