Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: July 10, 2008
Oak Bluffs citizens, as well as residents throughout the Island and elsewhere are saddened by the fire that struck our neighbor town of Tisbury on July 4. The Café Moxie was a complete loss and the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore suffered devastating water and smoke damage. Firefighters from Oak Bluffs and Edgartown joined with the Tisbury firefighters with mutual aid to fight this overwhelming fire. We are all grateful that there were no casualties and that the fire did not spread. We hope that the buildings can soon be repaired or replaced so that in a few months, Tisbury's Main Street will be back to its charming self.
A few weeks ago I asked if anyone knew where Vanessa was. I have received a reply from A.C. who tells me that she is bound and chained to a deck and may never be set free by the overseers. She is in poor health and may not be able to take her place in Farm Pond with her Baby Bong Bong at her side. Did you figure out who she is yet?
The Martha's Vineyard Fish Farm for Haiti Project will host a double fundraiser this summer with all the proceeds going to feed and educate the poorest country in our hemisphere. On July 17, 18, and 19, a tennis tournament will be held at the Martha's Vineyard Resort (formerly the Jack E. Robinson Racquet Club) at 111 New York Ave. in Oak Bluffs. The tournament is open to all ages and levels and the entry fee is $50 per player.
On July 19, the group will host their sixth annual Haitian Art Sale from 5 to 8 pm at the same location. The admission donation is $15 each. The art sale will feature live music by Boston musicians from the Haitian community, wine, and hors d'oeuvres. There will also be a silent auction and raffle tickets for an opportunity to win an original Haitian art quilt. For more information, contact Margaret Penicaud at 508-603-0368.
Sarah and Jack Lavolette, along with their children Alley, Logan, and Jake, were at their Oak Bluffs house for the long holiday weekend. Sarah and the children will be spending most of the summer here.
Victoria Rowell, acclaimed actress, author, and philanthropist, will visit the library on Thursday, July 7, at 1 pm. She will discuss her inspirational book, "The Women Who Raised Me, A Memoir."
Users of the children's room at the library are enjoying many fun-filled mornings and afternoons these days. Many kids are taking part in the Summer Reading Program while reading and reporting the books they've read to earn a "Wild Reads" tee-shirt and the weekly incentive prizes provided by our generous Oak Bluffs merchants. The 10:30 Wednesday morning Pre-School Story Hour is full each week and from now on it will be held at 11:15 am also. The 5- to 10-year-olds are busy on Friday mornings exploring and reading about "all kinds of Wild things."
Gus BenDavid will bring his menagerie of snakes, turtles, and perhaps an eaglet owl to the meeting room for family entertainment on July 17 at 6:30 pm.
On Saturday, July 19, the Wild Thing of "Where the Wild Things Are" will visit our library at 10:30 am. The event will take place in the downstairs meeting room and light refreshments will be served. Two "Wild Thing" character dolls will be raffled off that morning.
Of interest to the teens who use our library, DDR and Guitar Hero return for one special afternoon on Thursday, July 24, from 1 to 3 pm at the meeting room. Pizza and soda will be served.
Kristen Anderson and her son, Ian, are here for their annual visit to Kristen's parents, Bill and Maureen Anderson. They will be staying for a few weeks after driving from their home in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
We send birthday smiles to Bob Hughes, who celebrated on July 4, followed by Barbara Fehl, who celebrated a milestone birthday on July 6, Donald Billings, who partied on July 7, Fronzie Conlin on July 10, Colleen Farrissey on July 11, Lauren Weaver and Jeff LaBell share July 13, grandson Nick Rivers on July 15, and Sophie Combra on July 16.
Enjoy your week and send your news along.
Peace.
