Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: October 2, 2008
According to the calendar, September, the month I always wait in anticipation for throughout the long hot everlasting days of August, has gone by. It disappeared so quickly that I really cannot remember if I enjoyed it or not. I think the reason I and many other people look forward to it isn't just because of the cooler weather that starts coming but because of what I call the "whew" factor. It signals the start of a slowing down of traffic, less crowding in the streets and stores and relief that we made it through another hectic summer season. So now it is into October.
William ("the RAT") Deese's retirement from the Navy called for a mini family reunion at Sandbridge Beach in Virginia. Joining in the festivities were Bill's mom Catherine Deese, step-father Ed Barrett, sisters Lisa Deese of West Palm Beach and Tammy Deese and her son, Daniel Serusa, of Oak Bluffs, brother Brian Deese with his wife, Deanna, and daughter Talia from Colorado, as well as Bill's wife, Amanda, and three daughters, Bailey, Savanah, and Madison. They all missed Bill's brother Robert (Butch) Deese. However great family memories were made and enjoyed at the cottage "By the Sea" where the family gathered.
Reminder that this Sunday, Oct. 5, is the annual Alzheimer's Walk. It starts at 12 noon and goes along State Beach from little bridge to big bridge and back, a distance of less than 2.5 miles. Team Bink will be out in force again and is encouraging everyone to join them. Donations may be dropped off at Bink's Auto. Checks need to be made out to Alzheimer's services.
Send get better soon wishes to Bill Anderson who remains in the hospital with a fractured leg and to Kenny Ponte who is recovering after being sick with a foot infection. He has been out of commission since the beginning of September and was hospitalized but is now recovering at home and is looking forward to being able to walk around again and get back to work.
COMSOG, the Community Solar Greenhouse of Martha's Vineyard will hold its 21st annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 12 noon to 3 pm, at the greenhouse, located off of New York Avenue in Oak Bluffs. Look for the yellow and green sign next to Dick's Bait and Tackle. There will be free soup courtesy of Linda Jean's restaurant, music by the Vineyard Brass, spinning demonstrations, arts and crafts from local artists, plants, jams, jellies and produce, baked goods, exciting "Trifles and Treasures" and activities for the kids.
At last Friday's community meeting at the Oak Bluffs School, the entire school was presented with a recycling program to help them learn about the problems of and solutions to the solid waste predicament in our world. Allied Waste Services sponsored the program. The curriculum introduces students to the new three R's: reduce, reuse and recycle. You are encouraged to support your children's efforts to learn about solid waste management and recycling.
Also at that meeting, tribute was paid to Charles "Cee Jay" Jones who has been a school crossing guard at the Oak Bluffs School for 17 years. He was presented with a plaque recognizing his many years of ensuring the safety of the students and doing it so joyfully.
It is not too early to make your plans for the Halloween party at the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging on October 31. Start thinking about costume possibilities and come and enjoy the refreshments and hilarity that are always in abundance at this event. The drawing for their beautiful quilt will take place at 12 noon at the party also.
We send birthday smiles to Will deBettencourt IV and Marc Hanover on October 3, Tony White and Bill Norton on October 5, Robert Moreis on October 6, followed by Donna Joyce the next day, Ann Knight on October 8 and Todd Rebello and Mabel McCarthy on October 9.
Special wishes to Carol and Bink deBettencourt, whose wedding anniversary is today.
As I waded through the wet grass and puddles all this week to retrieve the morning newspaper, I marveled at how carefully it was wrapped so it didn't get wet in all this heavy rain. It brought back memories of when my sister and I were growing up and split a paper route in Vineyard Haven that ran from the corner of Franklin and Greenwood up to what is now Dr. Santos's office at West Chop and all the side roads in between. We each took half the route and being only 11 and 12 at the time, either rode our bikes or walked the route. At that time it was the New Bedford Standard Times and we had to put the Cape Cod Times inside of it. There were no plastic bags to shield it from rain, but as we were required to deliver the paper right to the door, no plastic bags were necessary or available. Then once a week the distributor Billy King, who was also Tisbury's police chief, would come to our house to collect the money for the cost of the papers and whatever was left over after that was ours to keep. It never was much over $2 each, but that plus any tips (15 cents at the most) was fine with us. How many of you remember those days of having a paper route?
Enjoy your week and send your news along to me.
Peace.
