Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: March 26, 2009
It is that time of year again when local politics make their appearance. This has been such a difficult year for many people and the opinion of experts is that these financial difficulties will continue on for the next few years at least. That is why it is so hard for many of us to comprehend the decisions of those in charge, not just nationally, but here in our town regarding financial matters. First let me make it clear that I am not questioning the worth of the people themselves who are granted these very high increases, but the value of the position they hold, and taking into account that many people are struggling to pay not just their taxes but for food, rent, etc. Many retirees as well as other residents live on less per year than these salary increases. In these very hard economic times, is it logical to try to "bring salaries in line" with what "the others" are earning? It reminds me of my mother's reply when we would plead our cause with that familiar phrase, "but everyone else is doing it". She would respond by saying, "just because everyone else is jumping off the bridge, should you?" So think about this and vote accordingly, which is difficult in a small town.
The League of Women Voters of Martha's Vineyard annual Oak Bluffs Candidates' Forum will be held on Tuesday, March 31, at 7 pm at the Oak Bluffs Library. There are 21 Oak Bluffs citizens that are competing for many openings on various boards. Each candidate will have an opportunity to offer opening remarks and competing candidates will have up to five minutes to describe their goals and qualifications and unchallenged candidates will have three minutes. A question and answer period will follow.
Dave Diriwachter won the Boys and Girls Club race Sunday with a time of 18.27. Twelve-year-old Jeremy Alley-Tarter placed second at 19.18.
Congratulations to Tyson Araujo, Brian Fraser, William MacDonald, Andrew Carroll, Austin Morley, and Noah Kleinhenz, Martha's Vineyard Youth Hockey Pee Wee A players who played in the State Championship tournament in Springfield last weekend.
Bobbie Ann Gibson recently returned from a trip to Disney World where she had a huge family gathering. She was joined by her daughter, Paula O'Connor, Paula's husband, Sean, and their daughter, Shannon, and her friend Erin Hickey. Bobbie Ann's other daughter, Pam, and Pam's daughter, Shaina Hendrix, flew in from Tennessee. John Gibson, his wife, Suzanne, and daughter, Alyssa, along with Michael Gibson and his family, Kathy, Daniella, Michael, and Vita, and her grandson, Jim Gibson, and his wife, Irma, all drove up from Palm Beach and Jimmy and Kathy Rogers from Tisbury all got together for a wonderful reunion.
On March 28, flip the switch (turn off your lights), for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. Thousands of cities and towns in more than 80 countries worldwide will be doing the same as part of International Earth Hour.
From the school comes a reminder that the first round of the spring MCAS testing for students in grades 3 through 8 officially begins on Monday, March 30, and runs through Tuesday, April 14.
Special dates at the school are the school play on March 27 and 28, Family Fun and Trivia night with Ray and Laurel on April 3 and the Bullying Discussion with Jeanine Fitzgerald on April 6.
Congratulations to an Oak Bluffs couple who had a landmark wedding anniversary on Saturday, when Nancy and Donald Billings celebrated 52 years of marriage.
We send birthday smiles to Cherrie Nunes who partied on March 21, Ross Peters who celebrated on March 22, James Rebello and Hannah Gibb on March 27, my favorite Queen of Avon, Grace Frye, on March 28, John Swan the next day, and Garrett Broadley on March 31. Enjoy your week. Peace.
