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Sunday, May 19, 2013

By Megan Alley
Published: Juen 11, 2009

Summer is here and traffic is increasing. Everything looks so fresh and new from green lawns to newly refurbished houses. The new hospital building now is starting to look like a new hospital building, rapidly progressing from a lemon custard appearance to a more dignified structure. And what more can I say about the drawbridge? Not quite so many traffic hold-ups, but alas - not too much progress either. Please tell me that the person in charge is not waiting until after July 4 to get serious construction started.

The Oak Bluffs School class of 2009 will hold their graduation on June 17 at 5:30 pm at the Tabernacle in the Campground. The Awards Day ceremony will be held that morning from 9 to 11 am at the school gym.

Proud grandmother Rita Reynolds passed on the news that her grandson, Travis W. Bernard, son of Melissa Baker, graduated from Falmouth Regional High School on June 6. Travis's father is Bill Bernard of New Bedford and his grandfather is Francis Bernard of Oak Bluffs. Travis will go to the University of Massachusetts Lowell in the fall where he will major in chemical engineering.

Science teacher Lenny Schoenfield is retiring after 35 years as a public school teacher. Lenny has been at the Oak Bluffs School for 13 years and has touched the hearts and minds of hundreds of kids and adults in his tenure at the school

Triplets Timothy, Jacob, and Julia Peters turned the big 10 on June 5 and chose to celebrate their birthday at the Relay for Life. What a wonderful choice they made. Their parents, Paula and Tim, celebrated their anniversary on June 6.

A volunteer reader program was instituted at the Oak Bluffs School this year, sponsored by the Title 1 reading program. Parents and community volunteers were matched with students, who were selected by their teachers. The volunteers made a weekly commitment to come in and read to help inspire the next generation of readers. Thanks go to the following people for their dedication to our school and our children: Melanie Marchand, Paula Caron, Mary Lombardi, Deb Stevenson, Liz Huss, Nora Dyke, Susan Potter, Kate Fieffer, Dianne Morgan, Jeanne Rogers, Melanie Bilodeau, Ann Marie Cywinski, Merle Lincoln, Ann Davis, Stephen Dantzig, Sarah Trudel, as well as the teachers. Thank you for making this program a success, and having such a positive impact on the students and the community.

On Thursday, June 25, from 6:30 to 8 pm, in the library's meeting room, there will be a photo and video presentation of Michael Wooley's undersea imagery highlighting the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania. It will be a fascinating evening of sea dragons, walking cucumbers, lionfish, sea snakes, sharks and more. Refreshments will be served.

Our newest selectperson, Kathy Burton, has arranged for a room at the Senior Center on Mondays from 1 to 2 pm to listen to any concerns by Oak Bluffs Citizens to help with communication within the Town. She also wishes to remind everyone that there are openings on many town boards. A few of these are Copeland Plan Review, Cottage City Historic District, Capital Program and Energy Committee. Please contact the town hall for more information.

Come to Dennis Alley Park, formerly know as Waban Park, on Saturday, June 27, for the Hospice yard sale and flea market. It will run from 8:30 am until 2 pm with a rain date of June 28. There will be treasure tables and a bake sale table for Hospice as well as 35 vendor or family tables. Interested families and vendors may visit hospiceofmv.org, or call the office at 508-693-0189.

From 10 to 11:30 am on Friday, June 12, the Friday Conversations speaker will be Tom Dresser. Last year we enjoyed his talk about his book, "Mystery on the Vineyard." He has now published a new book, a work of fiction entitled "In My Life."

Windemere is having an auction to benefit the Residents Activity Programs on Friday, June 12, from 6 to 8 pm at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury. Trip Barnes will be the auctioneer. There will be many great items in the live and silent auctions, including boat trips, a house in Maine for a week, a tank of oil, to smaller items such as massages and gift baskets. There will also be a raffle.

We send birthday smiles to Maryanne Alwardt on June 13 and Kendall Fisher sends birthday wishes to her sister, Jaime Young, on the 14th, Arthur Pye celebrates on June 15, and Patt Suarez on the 18th.

Enjoy your week and send your news along to me. Peace.