Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: June 12, 2008
Father's Day brings forth visions of cards, presents and special treats for Dad's everywhere. But for me it brings forth so many memories that seem to increase over the years since my Dad's death 11 years ago at the age of 93. He was a hard-working man who said little until the right moment but one who also had a wonderful since of humor, and great wisdom. His practicality often set things straight in the blink of an eye. I still remember coming home from Sunday School and relating the terrifying news that the kids said the world was coming to an end tomorrow. At the time my father was on a stepladder painting my bedroom. He looked at me and very calmly said. "Tomorrow - well there is no sense of me finishing this painting then is there?" Then as he started to step down the ladder, I realized that if I really wanted my room painted, I had best get all ideas of the world ending the next day out of my head. How many times his serenity calmed my fears I cannot count. So this Sunday, here's to you Dad and all the fathers out there, be they stepfathers, grandfathers or substitute fathers. Have a wonderful day.
Congratulations to all the seniors who graduated this month even though they were "much too young" as it seems as if they had started kindergarten only a few years ago.
The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury has ordered 550 pounds of strawberries in anticipation of the 20th annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 21. Church members volunteer in shifts all day to make sure everything is ready. This event runs from 1 to 4 pm, but it would be a good idea to come early so you will not miss out on this sweet beginning to summer.
There will be a Sea Wall site visit today at 10:30 this morning to hear the Engineer's report and recommendations to determine the stability of the remaining seawall. He will present recommendations and hopefully the stabilization work can be done as soon as possible before the summer season gets in full swing.
William O'Brien, Chairman of the Charter Study Commission, will be the speaker at the Friday Conversations at the Oak Bluffs Senior Center on June 13. The program runs from 10 to 11:30 am. The Study Commission work is almost completed, so he can give a sense of their recommendations.
The last meeting of the 2007-2008 Education Series presented by the Martha's Vineyard Women's Network will take place on Tuesday, June 17. This meeting is sponsored by Allied Waste Services and the featured speaker will be Karol Rose. The meeting is at the Baylies Room of the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown with registration from 7 to 7:30 am and the presentation from 7:30 to 9 am.
On Tuesday, June 17, at 6 pm there will be a Current Events Lecture at the Oak Bluffs Public Library. Brigitte Lent, former Language Specialist at the U.S. State Department, will lecture on the timely topic of "World Population, Food Supplies, and Climate Change as a Security Matter." Refreshments will be served. You may call 508-693-9433 for more information.
On Thursday, June 26, at 5:30 pm a book discussion on Fictions of Race in 20th Century America will be held. The library will host the traveling book group, lead by Phil Weinstein of Aquinnah, author of books on Faulkner and Morrison and professor of English at Swarthmore College. The book to be read for discussion at the Library is "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones.
The Oak Bluffs School staff would like to extend their sincere thanks to the PTO for making them feel so appreciated throughout the year and their assistance in many matters. They are also very grateful to the entire community for demonstrating their continued support of quality education for Oak Bluffs students.
The eighth graders and their chaperones had a wonderful class trip this year. They visited New York City, Philadelphia, and Hershey Park, saw a Broadway show, went on a dinner cruise and experienced historical Philadelphia. Their graduation was June 11. Field day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17 with a rain date of June 18 and the last day of school will be Friday, June 20 with a 12 noon dismissal.
Remember to fly your flag proudly every day but especially this Saturday, June 14, as we celebrate Flag Day.
We send birthday smiles to Maryanne Alwardt on Friday, Arthur Pye on June 15, Pat Suarez on June 18 and Jane Maseda on June 19.
And speedy recovery wishes to one of my most favorite people, Bedeau Abbott.
Joyce Wadsworth has returned to her home in Paso Robles, Calif., after a three-week visit here. Joyce was the guest of her daughter Lynn Rebello and Lynn's children and came to attend the graduation of her grandson James Rebello from Stockbridge School of Agriculture and her grandson Joel Rebello's graduation from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
Enjoy your week and send your news along to me.
Peace.
