Martha’s Vineyard Community Notes

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Holiday Raffle to Benefit Haiti

The Martha’s Vineyard Fish Farm Haiti Project will hold a holiday raffle to support efforts to benefit projects in the poorest country in our hemisphere.

The grand prize is a 30- by 24-inch oil painting by Vineyard artist Mark Zeender valued at $2,500, now on display in the window of the Paper Store at the corner of Main and South Water Streets in Edgartown. Additional prizes include 100 gallons of fuel from Vineyard Propane, a sunset cruise for two aboard a Black Dog Tall Ship, a silver Vineyard tie bracelet from Moonstone Jewelers, a $75 gift certificate from Jim’s Package Store and a stash of Chilmark Chocolates. The six lucky winners will be drawn December 24th.

Chances may be purchased for $5 each or a book of 10 for $40 at Back Water Trading Company, Vintage Jewelry, Moonstone Jewelers, Jim’s Package Store, Chilmark Chocolates, or by mailing a check made out to “Fish Farm Haiti”, PO Box 1803, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

The Martha’s Vineyard Fish Farm Haiti Project is located outside of Port au Prince on two and one half acres of property belonging to the Daughters of Mary Queen Immaculate, an indigenous order of Roman Catholic nuns. To date, through local fundraising and private donations, the Project has helped establish five ponds and a hatchery raising Tilapia, a poultry production, vegetable gardens, a school which now has 272 children enrolled, a training school for women and a women’s cooperative. Recently a cafeteria kitchen was constructed to the school and a breakfast program for the poorest students is up and running.

To learn how you can sponsor a child to attend the Project’s school or how to get involved, go to their website at fishfarmhaiti.org or contact Margaret Pénicaud at 508-693-0368.

High school singers and string players excel

Demonstrating their musical skills and abilities at auditions last week, a group of MVRHS Performing Arts Department students were selected to participate in off-Island festivals.

Students Olivia de Geofroy, Thorpe Karabees, and Sarah Ortlip-Sommers were chosen for the Southeast District Orchestra and will be performing at Barnstable High School in January. Thorpe and Sarah received All-State recommendations and will audition in December for the privilege of performing at Symphony Hall in March.

All of the students that auditioned for the All Cape and Islands festival were chosen. Olivia de Geofroy, Sarah Ortlip-Sommers, Thorpe Karabees, Michaela Rivard, Connor Downing will join the orchestra. Claudia Taylor, Michelle de Geofroy, Kathryn Antonsson, Belle Dinning, Alley Ellis, Kristine Hopkins, and Megan Mendenhall will take part in choral groups. This festival will take place at Falmouth High School in February.