Thursday, May 23, 2013

By Megan Alley
Published: July 23, 2009

There are so many great things to do this summer at very little or no cost. They range from walking in the many parks, along the bulkhead, the beaches, watching the nighttime basketball games at Niantic Park (a little rough but some great talent), or perhaps attending the Community Sings in the Tabernacle on Wednesday evenings. Even going to our local post office, you often run into friends or meet new ones and just sit a spell in the David Healey Mall and you can be entertained for hours. So just look around and enjoy.

Three generations of the Combra family of Oak Bluffs at the annual Feast of the Holy Ghost; Richard Combra, Richard Jr., Sophie, and Richard III. Photo by M.C. Wallo

A group of friends play Scrabble at Marinelli Beach in East Chop, especially when Anne Sharon Youngs comes from Florida to her home in the Campground where she spends every summer. As she began play this year she said her goal was to use all seven letters at least once. In just one week Anne scored an extra 50 points, using all her letters not once but three times. Point value in one turn was a massive 94 points. Congratulations!

More events are planned at the Tabernacle for July. On Friday, July 24, at 8 pm there will be a piano concert with Amaryllis Iglesias Glass and her mother, Amaryllis Iglesias, with a free will offering. The Entrain concert Drums for Peace will be held Saturday, July 25, at 7 pm. Tickets will be $10 in advance or $15 at the door; $5 for children 12 and under. The Family Movie Night on July 27 at 7 pm will feature "Nims Island" with a free will offering. And on Wednesday, July 29 the Community Sing will be held at 8 pm. A special children's event, "Girl Authority" with free admission will be held on Thursday, July 30.

Grandson Jeremy Tarter continues to run with great success. On Friday, July 17, he ran at the Needham Invitational Classic. He won the 3,000 meters on that day with a time of 10.07 and the next day won the 800 in 2:16.

On Thursday, July 30, from 6:30 until 7:45 pm, Penny Pearlman, author of "Pretty Smart" visits the library for a book talk and signing. Refreshments will be served. On Saturday, July 25 at 2 pm is the opening and artists' reception for the Savor the Moment photography exhibit. This is the second year that the library has held a contest to select images for the Savor the Moment calendar. Contest judges were Alison Shaw and Don Alexander Goss, both photographers, and Francine Kelly, director of Featherstone Center for the Arts. Photographs were judged on the artful representation of the Savor the Moment 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. Please visit dellahardmanday.com for more information about events.

The photography show will be at the library through August 8. Copies of the calendar will be available for sale at the library meeting room.

The Martha's Vineyard Garden Club is sponsoring a wildflower walk on Saturday, July 25, at 9 am titled Exploring Drought Tolerant Plants of the State Forest. It will be led by Kristin Henriksen, owner of Going Native Nursery. Meet at the State Forest parking lot on Old County Road, north of the West Tisbury School. For additional information, call 508-693-2505.

As part of our Thursdays are a blast at Oak Bluffs Library on July 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Gus BenDavid will bring a variety of animals and birds to see and meet. He will discuss each one, but be sure to come early, as seating is limited. Thursday, July 30, will feature a Julie Austin Concert 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

You are invited to Rock the Rock Saturday, July 25, from 6 to 10 pm at The Boathouse Field Club in Katama. In honor of the hard work that Island businesses and residents do in order to compete in an especially hard Island economy, the fund would like to offer a reduced price ticket to Rock the Rock, the Music Festival and Soirée, that is benefiting the creation and retention of permanently affordable housing here on Martha's Vineyard.

Good Shepherd Parish had such a successful yard sale at the parish center last Saturday that they are repeating it this Saturday, July 25. Come to the parish center on School Street from 9 until 12 noon to find lots of bargains and exciting stuff.

We send birthday smiles to Aiden and Logan Araujo who are turning 7 on July 24, and also Helen Valentzas on July 24, Paul Robinson and Joanne DeBettencourt on July 26, Peter Valentzas on July 27. Travis Bernard, Rachel Barrett, and Denise Alwardt will party on the 29th, and Heather White, Bernie Crossland, and Ashley Medeiras take July 30 for their special day.

Enjoy your week. Peace.