Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: February 26, 2009
With all the beautiful views we can find in every area of Martha's Vineyard, the one that is not too pleasing is the sight of the construction of the temporary Lagoon drawbridge. I realize that the weather has not been very conducive to outdoor construction projects this winter, but the thought of this construction going on for years and not seeing a constant work crew active during the more temperate months is very discouraging. Do you know that the construction of the Sagamore Bridge started in 1933 and opened on June 22 in 1935? Now if that bridge could be completed in a little over two years, why has so little progress been made on ours? Do any of the town or county leaders have an answer to what the hold-up is and why it has to take so long?
It was a double Blazer victory at the Sancy Pachico Court at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) last week, as both the girls and boys basketball teams from the Oak Bluffs School captured their respective Island basketball crowns. For the boys, it was their third straight title and for the girls it was their third in four years. Congratulations to both teams and also to their remarkable coach, Alex McCluskey. Thanks go to him for all his hard work and dedication.
It is not only in sports that Oak Bluffs students shine. The second grades thank the entire Oak Bluffs School community for their participation and support of the Island Food Pantry Drive. This year 959 items were donated to the food pantry and Ms. Gately's second-grade gardeners, mentored by Priscilla Sylvia, were also able to make a cash donation of $100.
Important dates to remember for the school are the seventh-grade ski trip on March 4 through 6, a professional development day on March 18, which means a half day of school for students, and games night at the school on March 20.
Russell Shapiro won this year's Oak Bluffs School Spelling Bee. He now goes on to the Martha's Vineyard championship on March 19 at 9:30 am at the performing arts center at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
This Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2:30, come and participate in Wii and board games at the Oak Bluffs Library. This intergenerational activity invites all ages to come and you may play Wii tennis, bowling, or golf. Free snacks add to the community fun.
Learn how to use and search the World Wide Web by attending one of the Introduction to the Internet and email classes offered by the library on Tuesday, March 3, and again on the 17th at
6 pm. As there is limited seating available, please call the library to sign up at 508-693-9433.
A children's book club, based on "The Wimpy Kid" series, will start February 27 at the Oak Bluffs Library. It will meet monthly on the last Friday of the month through May and is designed for ages 9 through 12.
Women Empowered invites the public to dine at Zephrus at the Mansion House on Sunday, March 8, in honor of Women's International Day. The dinner is open to the public from 5 to 8 pm and there is no extra fee beyond the normal cost of dinner. Zephrus will donate 20 percent of all dinner receipts to Women Empowered.
There is a new outreach ministry at the United Methodist Church taking place at the Trinity Parish House. Every Saturday from 9 to 11 am at the Parish House, this ministry will provide clean clothing at a very low cost to help meet the needs of many people in this Island community. The response to the request for donations of clothing in gently used condition has been tremendous and donations of all types of clean clothing can be dropped off during "Clothes to Go" any Saturday between 9 and 11 am. Please pass the word to your family and friends about this wonderful resource. The Clothes to Go ministry is still seeking volunteers to help sort, stock and staff the store on Saturday mornings. All proceeds from this ministry will go to the United Methodist Island Outreach Program. So if you or anyone you know is interested in donating clothing, has a clothing need, or is interested in volunteering, they are encouraged to please stop by the Trinity United Methodist Parish House in the Campground on any Saturday morning, or you may call Jen Fiore at the Clothes to Go message center at 508-693-1608.
We send the largest of birthday smiles to Elizabeth Alley who will be celebrating her 97th birthday on March 1 in the same house she has been living in since she was married in 1934. Heather Jenkinson will be partying on March 2 and her sister Alison Ferreira on March 4.
Enjoy your week and send your news to me.
Peace.
