Oak Bluffs: The little things

0

In spite of the busy season and crowded Island, there are still those people who manage to find time to help out in both small and large ways. It could be by allowing cars to enter from side streets, or maybe offering someone in a checkout line a chance to go ahead of you as they only have a couple of items. You probably remember my writing about my disappointment that firemen’s flags were not placed on their graves in time for Memorial Day. Well, little did I know that someone cleaning up a gravesite near my family’s was also caring about it. So I want to give a shout out to Nicky, who put a new fireman’s flag on the grave in time for Memorial Day, and also to the Oak Bluffs Fire Department for now seeing that the new flags are in place honoring all firemen. I am truly grateful.

Our condolences to the family and friends of Charles Bradley Jr. Charles was a familiar face at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, where he worked for many years, always cheerful and helpful. He is missed already.

Every summer the Friends of Sengekontacket sponsor a program titled Saturdays on Senge. Each Saturday in July, beginning July 1 from 9:30 to 10:30 am, the organization conducts a nature excursion on the pond led by a Felix Neck Wildlife naturalist. Past topics included mollusks, birds, and shells, and children ages 4 and up are encouraged to attend, with the only requirement being that a parent is with them. There is no charge for this fun time, and any interested participants should plan to be at Little Bridge in Oak Bluffs at 9:30 am.

The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club’s major fundraiser of the year, its annual Blooming Art Show, will be held from June 22 through June 25 at the Old Mill, across from the Mill Pond in West Tisbury. The pairing of fine art and floral arrangement is a must-see event for lovers of art and gardens. Thursday, June 22, is the opening reception from 5 to 8 pm, and the fee is $50. Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24, from 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday, June 25, from noon to 3 pm for $5 each day.

Logan Lavolette, son of Sarah and Jack Lavolette, graduated from Glastonbury High School on Saturday last. He will soon arrive for the summer to live with his grandparents, Pat and Kerry Alley, and for the third summer will be working at Anderson’s Bike Rentals. In the fall he will be attending Virginia Tech as an engineering student. Attending the graduation ceremony were Chris Alley and daughter Maddy. Grandparents Pat and Kerry were unable to attend, as Pat is recovering from a recent fall that resulted in a fractured hip. She is healing nicely, and her main injury was to her plans to spend every day at the beach this summer.

One of the summer favorites is returning on Friday, June 30, from 4 to 7 pm, when lobster roll season returns to Grace Church in Vineyard Haven. Lorraine Clark, who has successfully led the sales with great spirit and determination, has retired, but the new team is prepared to serve the popular lobster rolls all season. Also available are hot dogs and assorted pies. Advance orders are welcome by calling 508-693-0332. All proceeds are used to support Grace Church ministry and mission.

Oak Bluffs seasonal resident Salem Mekuria is helping to raise money for a solar-powered water delivery system for a community in rural Ethiopia. This Sunday, June 25, there will be a fundraising dinner at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center featuring authentic homemade Ethiopian food, live music, and a short film. Tickets are $100 in advance. For more information, see salemmekuria.com/the-water-project.

Federated Church in Edgartown will be having two services each Sunday starting on July 2 and ending on Sunday, Sept. 3. The first service at 8 am will be an abbreviated one, and the second service at 9:30 am will be a traditional service with music from the choir under the direction of Peter Boak, minister of music.

Our Oak Bluffs library will be hosting two interesting book readings. On June 27 at 2 pm, Ross Gresham is reading from his new book, “White Shark,” which is a comic thriller about an island very similar to M.V. A seasonal employee disappears, but the local police don’t want it to disrupt the tourist economy.

Then on June 28 at 3 pm, celebrated sportswriter Alexander Wolff is reading from his book “The Audacity of Hoop,” an examination of Barack Obama, the person and president, by the light of basketball. This game helped Obama explore his identity, keep a cool head, impress his future wife, and define himself as a candidate.

Tomorrow is the date for the Friends of the Council on Aging Ham and Bean Supper. Come to the COA building and enjoy a great meal.

On June 29 from 7 to 9 pm, at the Agricultural Society hall, the public will have an opportunity to learn about the developing climate that is bringing changes to our weather, with serious implications for food production and for our coastal structures and infrastructure in the near future.

The speaker will be Eric Walberg, the senior climate services program leader at Manomet science center in Plymouth. Mr. Walberg will discuss the likely changes to weather patterns and extremes that have serious implications for our farming community, as well as the projected rising sea level and increased coastal storms and the risks that they pose to the built coastal environment.

The Cape Cod Municipal Health Group is sponsoring a Tick-Borne Illness Symposium on Tuesday, June 27, at 5:30 pm at the Edgartown Library. Among the presenters will be Matt Poole, Edgartown board of health agent; Richard Johnson, field biologist; Michael Jacobs, M.D. and biointernist. You will get information about ticks life cycle, lawn preparation, exposure, signs and symptoms of disease recognition, babesiosis, prophylactic and therapeutic treatments, and much more.

Can you believe that next Wednesday, June 21, is the summer solstice, the longest day? And then the next day, the days start getting shorter. Too soon.

We send birthday smiles to Jay Schofield on June 23, Ashley Andrews and Leanne Giordano on the 28th, and Abby Marchand, Donna Leon, and James Maseda on the 30th.