Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: July 16, 2009
This week has been beautiful, and we are enjoying it along with the visit of our son, Dion, his wife, Debra, and their children, Sam, Ben, and Paige. They arrived from Daniel Island in S.C., leaving behind the stormy, humid weather and the many thunderstorms they have been having there lately. They're now enjoying our dry (at last) sunny days. Times spent with their Island cousins, grandparents and aunts, cookouts and days at the beach have been filling their days as well as ours. I know that summer is here when it takes 30 minutes to get to Vineyard Haven and drivers seem to loose their patience in direct proportion to the number of cars and pedestrians that are here.
The Portuguese Feast is celebrated this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19. All roads lead to the P.A. Club when Saturday night the soup will be served and you may enjoy music and games. Sunday, at 11:30 am is the all-important parade leading from the Steamship Authority wharf in Oak Bluffs to Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, up Vineyard Avenue, where it will stop briefly at Sacred Heart Cemetery before ending at the Club. There you can enjoy the dancing, food, auction, and greeting friends.
Shaw Cramer Gallery presents the artwork of 13 Island artists in a special exhibit to celebrate a new book, "Vineyard Artists in the Kitchen", up through July 23. The Gallery is located at 56 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
Join renowned Island storyteller Susan Klein and photographer Alan Brigish in an exciting collaboration bringing Martha's Vineyard to you in a free new serial e-book. You will be introduced to Martha's Vineyard - Now & Zen, an exploration of community, traditions, and transformations.
Oak Bluffs students Jack Roberts, Mike deBettencourt and Matt Marchand spent four days at basketball camp last week. The camp was held at Stonehill College where the boys not only learned new skills but also enjoyed their days there.
On Saturday, July 25, from 2 pm to 3:30 pm, the opening and artists' reception for the Savor the Moment photography exhibit will take place at the Oak Bluffs Library meeting room. This is the second year that the library has held a contest to select images for the Savor the Moment calendar. Photographs were judged on the artful representation of the theme during all four seasons on the Island. The calendar is published to honor Della Hardman, a former library trustee, in conjunction with the fifth annual Della Hardman Day, which is celebrated in Oak Bluffs on the last Saturday in July. The photography show will be at the library through August 8. Copies of the calendar will be available for sale at the library.
The Martha's Vineyard Fish Farm for Haiti Project has two events planned back to back this summer.
The Tennis Tournament Benefit will be held at the M.V. Resort, at 111 New York Avenue in Oak Bluffs July 16 though 18, singles, doubles, mixed, all levels; $50 per player per event. The Haitian Art Sale Benefit will be held at the same location on Saturday, July 18, from 5 to 8 pm. The guest speaker is the Honorable Marie-Laurence Jocelyn-Lassegue, Haiti's minister of Womens' Rights and Affairs. There will be live music by Haitian artist Didi Jeremie and hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served. The entrance donation is $15. 100 percent of the proceeds of these events will be used to help alleviate poverty in the poorest country of our hemisphere Haiti.
