Noteworthy events

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Meet your farmers

Slow Food Martha’s Vineyard is doing something new next Thursday, April 7: inviting local farmers to a Meet Your Farmer Potluck dinner at the Ag Hall. From 6 pm on, meet farmers from Mermaid, Blackwater, Norton, Bakehouse, Native Earth, Whippoorwill, Morning Glory, and Allen farms, as well as The FARM Institute, and The Good Earth. They’re there to answer questions about their products, what’s in season, and where to find what.

Bring a potluck dish to share and your own place settings. Admission is $5; free for Slow Food members.

Healthy Kids Day

The YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard invites children and parents to a free play date at the Y next Saturday, April 9, part of a nationwide initiative. From 11 am to 2 pm, take part in an interactive fun fair, Zumba, yoga, ballet, jujitsu, free swimming assessments, basketball, face painting, pony rides, enjoy healthy concessions, and more.

“It’s important for families to incorporate more active play and healthier habits into their daily routine,” Emily Galligan, director of marketing and public relations, says. “Doing so doesn’t have to require extra money or resources. Every day activities can be an inspiring moment just by turning on the music or getting outside.”

For more information, call 508-696-7171 or visit ymcamv.org.

Garden Gate summer camp

Garden Gate Preschool announces a new camp for children, Garden Arts Summer Camp, that runs from July 5 to August 26 at Garden Gate Child Development Center in Vineyard Haven.

Each camp will focus on a specific Vineyard ecosystem, from The Wonderful Woods to By the Sea. With a focus on nature, including harvesting a garden, working with natural clay, learning about trees and seashells, the camp will be influenced by the preschool approach from Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Sessions are organized in four two-week sessions, and operates daily from 8 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday.

For more information or to register, contact 508-696-9997; gardengatecdc@hotmail.com

Arts and culture census

The Martha’s Vineyard Arts and Cultural Collaborative is doing a census of those involved with the arts on the Island. The aim is to get an idea who is involved in the arts, and to get ideas about what initiatives could benefit the Island. To fill out the survey, visit marthasvineyardarts.org or send an email to info@marthasvineyardarts.org.

Persephone Event

“This will be an unusual event with an emphasis on local artists of all kinds,” says Marsha Winsryg of the upcoming Persephone Event this Saturday, April 2. With puppet-making, a parade, and presentation by Spindrift Marionettes combined with food, a silent auction with art, poetry reading, and Rick Bausman’s African Drum Workshop, the event has something for most. A benefit for Ms. Winsryg’s African Artists’ Community Development Project that supports educational programs in Zambia, the event is from 3 pm on at the Shephard Fine ArtSpace in Oak Bluffs (formerly the NYE Gallery). For more information, 508-693-4059.

Bee School

A division of Island Grown Initiative, Island Grown Bees will host the Island’s first Bee School intensive weekend starting this Friday, April, and continuing through April 3. Held at the Ag hall with possible visits to hives, the program runs 7 to 9 pm on Friday, 9 am to 12 pm and 2 to 6 pm on Saturday, and 12 noon to 3 pm on Sunday. Cost is $100; $50 for students and teachers, and $40 for those who receive scholarships. To sign up, visit islandgrown.org/pollination or email emilywalker@islandgrown.org.

Double dose

This Saturday, April 2, are two benefit dinners in Edgartown. From 5 to 8 pm is the annual Celebrity Waiters pasta dinner at the Federated Church, which benefits Martha’s Vineyard Fish Farm for Haiti’s PeaceQuilt initiative. “Celebrity” waiters will serve the pasta, and you can buy funny money at the door to tip them. Admission is $7; $5 for children; $25 for families. Call 508-274-1104 for more information.

Starting at 6 pm that same night is the annual Ducks Unlimited (DU) Banquet and Auction. DU works to protect wetlands throughout the world. This year’s banquet is at the Harbor View Hotel. Admission is $40 for guests.