Community Shorts

Posted January 31, 2008

Knowing nutrition

Lisa Vunk, a holistic nutritional consultant, is offering free weekly nutrition lectures, on Saturdays through May 3. Ms. Vunk said in a press release that the lectures will, "make sense out of the myths and misinformation so rampant in the mainstream." She goes on to say that these evenings are a public service, meant to educate the community, and are not intended to sell any product or service. Proper nutrition is a way to take back control of your health.

Topics will include: organic eating; genetically modified foods; acid and alkaline balance; detoxing; superfoods; and vitamins.

Nutrition lectures, Saturdays through May 3, 7 to 8 pm, at The Natural Food Barn, 294 State Road, Vineyard Haven. For more information, call Ms. Vunk at 508-471-3707.

Meditate

Monthly Mindfulness Meditation Sessions, led by Chas Di Capua, begin this Saturday, Feb. 2. Mr. Di Capua is a teacher-in-residence from the Insight Meditation Society in Barre. The sessions are free but donations are accepted towards transportation and use of the space. The sessions are from 9 am to 12 noon, and are at the Unitarian-Universalist chapel, located at 238 Main Street in Vineyard Haven. For more information, call Jo at 508-693-2827. You may also call the chapel at 693-8982.

Herb Foster, Barney Zeitz and Phyllis Vecchia

Herb Foster (center) celebrates with friends and family. Surrounding him are Barney Zeitz and Phyllis Vecchia. Photo by Ralph Stewart. Click photo for larger version.

Happy Birthday

Herb Foster celebrated his 80th birthday last Saturday in Edgartown. "Since I have more material items than anyone could use, please no gifts for me. If you wish, please bring a contribution for the Island Food Pantry," read the invitation he sent out. Guests responded in a very generous way with monetary donations as well as food. Last year Mr. Foster made a similar request and more than $500 and a dozen bags of groceries were donated.

Volunteering in the community is a way of life for Mr. Foster. Some of his energy is spent as a Trustee of the Edgartown Public Library; co-president of the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center; a board member of the NAACP; and a member of Martha's Vineyard Search and Rescue. According to his family, he exemplifies what it is to give back to the community. He is a tremendous role model.

Community supper canceled

This week only, the community supper at the Old Whaling Church has been canceled. The good food and company resumes next week on Monday, Feb. 11.

Dine locally

In collaboration with the regional high school's culinary arts department and chef Dan Sauer of the Outermost Inn, the Island Grown Initiative (IGI) is hosting a Winter Local Foods Dinner, at the high school. The dinner, to be held on Monday, Feb. 11, at 6 pm, will benefit the school's culinary arts program, currently directed by Jack O'Malley. The dinner is part of IGI's Farm to School program to get locally grown foods into school cafeteria menus. Pleased to be part of the program, Mr. O'Malley comments, "In addition to all of the moral and nutritional benefits associated with buying locally, it's important for students to learn the commercial component as well. It's always good to have local ingredients on the menu at your restaurant, and it will be great for the kids to learn how to evaluate when it makes sense to look for local products and when it doesn't."

Tickets are $25 and available at Cronig's Market and SBS, both in Vineyard Haven.

File photo by Sara Piazza. Click photo for larger version.

Doubles tournament

The Vineyard Youth Tennis Center (VYT) is hosting an Adult Round Robin Tennis Extravaganza next weekend from Friday to Sunday, Feb. 8-10. Sign up for the men's and women's doubles, to benefit the VYT scholarship fund, which will be used to send deserving and needy Island children to tennis camps in Florida. On Friday at 5 pm is a kickoff party at the center, including a professional tennis exhibition and silent auction. The entry fee is $100 per team. For more information, call Scott Smith at 508-693-7762, or visit the web site at vineyardyouthtennis.org.

Tisbury travel update

The Tisbury Senior Center's trip to the Rhode Island Spring Garden and Flower Show has been rescheduled for Thurs, Feb. 21, after a low number of sign-ups. To sign up, or for more information, call 508-696-4205.