Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: January 29, 2009
When the days are cold and grey and the ground covered with snow and ice it only takes the smallest event to perk us up a bit and remind us that eventually spring will be here. Jodie and Bob Falkenburg got a reminder of this when they were in line at the ferry last week and the snow was swirling about. As they were looking out of the car window they spotted two robins sitting on the fence. And then on Saturday, a small flock of robins were having a great time in my yard wandering over the ice and searching for goodness knows what, perhaps a frozen dessert, but it brought some cheer to the landscape.
The Oak Bluffs school celebrated the presidential inaugural events of last week in their usual enthusiastic manner. At an all-school assembly in the gym on Friday, students and staff were provided a glimpse of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including his "I Have a Dream" speech of 1963. The program included the entire school singing "We Shall Overcome" led by music teacher Brian Weiland followed by a slide show of Tuesday's inaugural.
"The Rockets are Coming, The Rockets Are Coming" is the cry echoing throughout the schools. On Friday, Feb. 6, at 7 pm the Harlem Rockets (similar to the Globetrotters) are coming to Martha's Vineyard Regional High School to take on our own Vineyard Dream Team. Tickets in advance will be available at the Oak Bluffs school office among other places at a reduced cost of $8 for students and $10 for adults.
Bert and Hilde Combra have arrived home after a six-week vacation in Kirschweiler, Germany, Hilde's hometown. They visited with many of Hilde's relatives and hosted a double wedding anniversary dinner for Hilde's Sister Irmgard and Horst Peter Grunewald's 52nd anniversary, and the Grunewald's daughter Stefani and Erwin Bremm's 30th anniversary on the same date. Christmas in Germany has two days of celebration so the Combras were very busy and New Years Eve was a beautiful, clear, cold night. At the stroke of midnight everyone in town went outside to shoot off fireworks in the street and the celebration continued for at least an hour. While there they made contact with many relatives and friends, many of whom have visited the Vineyard and have a fondness for this Island also.
If you want to know where the action is, you have so many places in town to pick from. One of our most newsworthy sites is the Oak Bluffs Senior Center where among the scheduled events is the Men's and Ladies' Lunch on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 12 noon. Rose tells us that they will be serving lasagna at a cost of $5 per person. She mentions that she is most grateful that she is able to pass on updates to the monthly printed schedule for any changes that are frequently made in planned events. Many people have told her that it is great to be able to read about these changes and plan accordingly.
On February 17, Nicole Bartlett from the VNA will be giving a lecture at the senior center on diabetes type one and two, including the complications of and the meds used in this disease.
A new DVD release of a movie based on the best-selling novel by Monica Ali and a winner of multiple film festival awards will be the feature at movie night on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Oak Bluffs Public Library. The movie starts at 6 pm and don't forget that popcorn and beverages will be served.
If you really want to know what this Island is all about, and in particular Oak Bluffs, then read on. These past months have been difficult with the weather and ice and twice after recent snowstorms I awoke to find my driveway shoveled out by an unknown person. Then last week, sand was shoveled along my drive and parking area. These events and the kindness of those people who also take time to stop by and help my family out or just take a very bored retired fire chief for rides while doing their errands or just chat for a while, prompt me to give acts of random kindness awards to Paul, Kenny, Jimmy, Raymond, and Peter. Where else but here would this happen? And word has it that we are not the only family that has benefited from their kindnesses. Thank you.
We send birthday smiles to Michael Edward Perry III on January 29, Otis Rogers on January 30, Bethany deBettencourt and David Madeiras on January 31, Noah Hoyt on February 1, Emma Williamson on February 3, and grandson Matt Rivers on February 4.
Enjoy your week and send your news to me.
Peace.
