Town Column : Oak Bluffs
Thanksgiving day is over, but not the thanks giving I hope. There are many peaceful ways to celebrate during this holiday season. One of the most rewarding ones is the annual Reflections of Peace Concert held at Our Lady Star Of The Sea Church in Oak Bluffs. This year it will be held on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 pm. The concert benefits Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, that wonderful organization that is so comforting and helpful to many Island families and at no cost to these families. Some of the performers at this year's concert include, classical guitarist Eric Johnson, violinist Rebecca Barca Tinus, The Katama Trio, and Peter Boak directing the octet NOVUM. Come and start this season by attending this inspirational concert and supporting one of the most valued organizations on the Island.
A longstanding holiday tradition on Martha's Vineyard is returning on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, when the Children in the Arts of Martha's Vineyard will present the 11th Annual Nutcracker Gala at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School Performing Arts Center at 2 pm. It will feature the Atlantic Coast Ballet (formerly Cape Cod Ballet) with a cast of 14 professional dancers. Also performing are children from the Martha's Vineyard School of Ballet, bringing a total cast of 75 dancers to the stage. Oak Bluffs children and adults who have dancing roles in the Nutcracker are Avalon Weiland, Ava McGee, Annabelle Shevelin, Makenzie Luce, Elizabeth O'Brien, and Courtney Minnehan, along with Betsi Convery-Luce, Mark Luce, and Brian Weiland.
Please take note that The Friends of the OBCOA Holiday Bazaar planned for this Saturday, Dec. 6, has been cancelled.
Just a reminder that sometimes events listed in the monthly 55 Plus section of The Martha's Vineyard Times change due to unforeseen circumstances. Let me reassure you that you will catch updates and changes for the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging activities in this weekly column. Rose Cogliano, the very busy Assistant Director of the Center, is really great about letting me know so I can pass this information along to you.
Rose was pleased to have her children home from their schools to celebrate Thanksgiving with her. Marguerite arrived from UMass Amherst and Joe was here from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Penn.
The annual Holiday Luncheon and Party at the Senior Center takes place on December 19 at 12 noon. There is no charge for the luncheon on that day. At the monthly blood pressure clinic on December 18 at the center, there will be flu shots available for anyone who has missed the previous clinics.
The Dr. Daniel Fisher House is once again the perfect setting for Hospice's annual Handmade from the Heart sale of handmade items, knitted, crocheted and hand sewn garments, homemade holiday décor, crafts, bakery, and all other sorts of goodies. The date is December 13 from 10 am to 3 pm. Hot coffee and tea will be available for shoppers who want to take time out from their shopping and holiday walk-about. Please call the Hospice office at 508-693-0189 if you would like to donate items for this sale. Someone will pick them up if you would like, or they can be dropped off at the office.
On December 13 at 7:30 pm and December 14 at 3 pm, Peter Boak and The Federated Church Choir will present An Old Fashioned Christmas Concert at the Federated Church Meetinghouse. Christmas anthems and songs will be presented by the full choir and small ensembles. Admission is by free-will donation and will benefit the Church's Steeple Fund Capital Campaign and the choir's spring 2009 singing tour of France and Switzerland. A donation of canned goods for the Island Food Pantry is encouraged.
Happy birthday smiles to Mary MacDonald, Lynn Rebello, Francis Bernard, and Rose Cogliano on December 7, Vamp Campbell the next day, and Tony Maseda and Patrick Parker on December 10. We send belated happy birthday hugs and kisses to Nathan Averill who turned two on November 18 from Grampa and Grammy in Arizona.
Many of the blessings we are privileged to have on this Island are sometimes taken for granted. Among these is our outstanding Island-wide EMS service. So learn about becoming an Island EMT this Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 am to 12 noon at the West Tisbury Firehouse on State Road in West Tisbury. Representatives from Island EMT Squads will be available to help you with your questions.
Another service, that many of us receive and take for granted, at least for me, is the person who delivers my morning paper. It has become such an important item in my morning routine that sometimes I forget to voice my appreciation. So thank you to all those newspaper carriers out there that have to come out so early in the day to keep us informed of the happenings in our world.
Please send news to me about your celebrations and visitors and enjoy your week
Peace.
