Noteworthy
Published: August 20, 2009
Engineers Without Borders
The Oak Bluffs Public Library welcomes two engineers from Engineers Without Borders for a discussion on Friday, August 21, from 3:30 to 4:45 pm. They will speak about their project for the village of Nioni in Mali, a disease-ridden city due to major flooding and water contamination from the lack of septic systems. For more information, call 508-693-9433.
Children's work at large
Children from the Martha's Vineyard Art Association had the opportunity to showcase their artwork at the Old Sculpin Gallery this past Saturday, August 15. The show featured artwork from children - Islanders and visitors - who had participated in the gallery's children's workshop for ages 7 to 12. This was their end of the season showing. Their collages, paintings, and drawings were framed and hung on the walls and laid out on tables.
A collage of a sheep by Jacques Pelletier was showcased
during the Children's Art Show at the Old Sculpin Gallery.
Addy Wolf, a featured artist from Arlington, Va., admires artwork with family, William (left) and Charlie Wolf.Ladies outing
Guided cycling and the English Butler present a women's only cycling and pampering on Saturday, August 22. From 4 to 8 pm, the event consists of a two-hour guided ride on a recumbent tricycle, followed by a relaxing time of massages served with tea and sweets from the English Butler. Call 508-338-3130 for location, and to pre-register by August 21. Transportation is provided, and cost for the event is $145.
Open house
Join the celebration of a 75-year-old organization at the Martha's Vineyard Hostel this coming Wednesday, August 26. The M.V. Hostel hosts an open house and a celebration for Hostelling International's 75 years in the United States. The celebration is from 5 to 8 pm at the hostel on Edgartown-West Tisbury Road in West Tisbury. Enjoy live music and a BBQ. RSVP by calling 617-718-7990.
For the dogs
Good Dog Goods welcomes the First Puppy Bo Obama and his family during the First Time Ever Dog Parade on Sunday, August 23, at 6:30 pm in Ocean park. The parade will be led by Chappy Homlish, a young yellow lab, whose family recently won the parade Dream during the Possible Dreams Auction. Lisa Vanderhoop, of Vineyard Sea Dogs Calendar, will photograph the parade and Island author Kate Feiffer will read and sign copies of her books "Which Puppy?" and "Henry the Dog With No Tail." Kosher, organic treats, fresh Chilmark Spring Water, and pick-up bags will be available for the marchers, all donated from Good Dog Goods.
Shoppers fill the tent outside the Thrift Shop in Vineyard Haven. Photos by Lynn Christoffers Chicken Alley treasure hunt
The annual Chicken Alley Art and Collectable Sale at the Thrift Shop in Vineyard Haven this past Sunday, August 16, was, as always, a success. All of the proceeds from the fundraising sale go directly to Martha's Vineyard Community Services. The show featured a stunning array of art, including paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, ashtrays, dollhouses, children's toys, and other interesting items. Nearly 2,000 items in each year's show are displayed inside and outside the store. This year the art sale was "bigger and better" than last year, according to the Thrift Shop staff. Manager Sandy Pratt said, "We have an army of volunteers who work hard year-long, choosing, pricing, and preparing the donations."
Shoppers wait in the checkout line with their found treasures last Sunday. 
Olga Hirshhorn, curator and host of the annual Chicken Alley Art and Collectable Sale, holds up a pair of antique shoes.Summer nature
Holly Bellebuono returns to Polly Hill Arboretum to teach a salve-making workshop on Tuesday, August 25, from 1 to 3 pm. The hands-on workshop will start with a walk to identify and collect medicinal herbs. Later on, participants will make their own oil infusions and beeswax-based ointments to take home. Supplies are included; tickets are $40 per person, $35 for members.
On Thursday, August 27, join a walking tour of the Arboretum with Tom Clark, collections and grounds manager who will explain and reveal stories behind the dawn redwood, dove, franklinia trees, on the property. For more information, or to register in advance, call 508-693-9426.
Robert Hayden, president of the M.V. ASALH and author of many books including "Eight Black American Inventors" (1972), with several items invented by African Americans: a golf tee and an improved version of the Edison light bulb. Photo by Susan Safford Traveling exhibit showcases black inventors
For two days, the Black Inventors Showcase Exhibit will be on the Island, hosted by the Martha's Vineyard Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (M.V. ASALH). A traveling museum of the Institute of Black Invention and Technology, the exhibition features more than 100 inventions, replicas, patent drawings, and contributions of more than 80 black inventors.
Such noted African Americans are Lewis Latimer and George F. Grant. Mr. Latimer invented an improved version of Thomas Edison's light bulb. An employee of Mr. Edison, Mr. Latimer created a bulb that burned for 600 hours, 300 hours more than Mr. Edison's.
A dentist and an avid golfer, Mr. Grant invented what is known now as the golf tee. Annoyed with the original method of using sand, which dirtied his hands, he patented the first version of a tee.
Artifacts from these inventors and more will be at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs on Friday, August 21, from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturday, August 22, from 12 noon to 8 pm. Admission is $10; $5 for teens; free for children 12 and under. For more information, call Robert Hayden at 508-693-8714.
Guest preacher
The Chilmark Community Church welcomes Kwame Osei Reed as guest preacher on Sunday, August 23, at 9 am. Formerly known as Bobby Reed, he was ceremonially adopted into the Ashanti people of Ghana, Africa, where he was given the name Kwame Osei. Mr. Reed graduated from Howard University, Howard University School of Law, and Yale Divinity School. He has also pursued a career as an attorney, and served on the faculty of Oberlin College, in the Legal Studies Department of the University of Pittsburgh. Recently, he and his wife began construction on a clinic for sick children near Accra, Ghana.
Polar bear sighting
As a result of the children and teens of the Oak Bluffs library receiving 800 points in the Summer Reading Program (one point awarded each hour a child reads) the library received a stuffed polar bear and adoption certificate after their 2009 charity benefactor, The Black Dog Kids, donated money to the World Wildlife Fund. They adopted a symbolic polar bear through the Adopt a Species Program, and the bear is now on display along with book about polar bears and climate change.
Children from the ITW rehearse their last play of the season, In Their Words. Photo courtesy of Jon RyanAnd the curtain falls...
The Island Theater Workshop (ITW) presents its final children's theater show of the season, "In Their Words," tomorrow, Friday, August 21, at 11 am and 6 pm. The performance is adapted from the children's writings throughout the two-week course of the program.
"The program has a wide age range, from 6 to 18, and the play incorporates everyone," said Brian Ditchfield, director of ITW. "In Their Words" incorporates four of the children's stories, which include songs written by campers, who also did the choreography.
"The season has been phenomenal, and the kids have been wonderful," said Mr. Ditchfield.
The program has been running for 42 years, and has always shown a grand end-of-the-season performance. For more information, call 508-693-2769.
Up-Island feast
The Aquinnah Cultural Center held its annual fundraiser feast on Saturday, August 15. Featured at the event was guest speaker Jessie Little Doe Baird. Islanders and visitors enjoyed food in a tent set up outside the building.
(From left) Aquinnah Cultural Center board members Adriana Ignacio, Berta Welch, Jonathan Perry, Jannette Vanderhoop, Cheryl Vanderhoop-Sellitti, Beverly Wright, and Tobias Vanderhoop.
Jannette Vanderhoop, program coordinator, welcomes guests to the Aquinnah Cultural Center's feast on Saturday, August 15.Dance festivities
The 13th annual Built on Stilts dance festival returned to Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs from August 12 to 17 with dozens of dancers performing nearly 40 routines - from modern dance to hip hop, classical to improv - over six nights. Each night began at 7:30 with a drum circle led by Paul Thurlow and Scott Hershowitz which helped get the dancers and audience warm up before the performances began at 8 pm.
"When the festival ends, the process for next year's event begins," said Abby Bender, one of the founders of Built on Stilts. "I put down the dates for next August, and then start registration in the spring." This year, and as in the past, seats filled quickly with enthusiastic audiences each night.
Teo Azzollini (left) and Lucia Dillon performed in space-inspired costumes.
Stiltshop, a workshop of children choreographers ages 5 to 11, perform "A Summer Night's Dream."
Meg Burke charms the audience at Built on Stilts. 
A team of dancers performed "Island Flow" on Friday, August 14.Weekend performances
This weekend, The Yard presents "Disappearing Woman," and choreographer Lisa Race, featuring artists Nell Breyer, Alissa Cardone, and Lorraine Chapman, at 4 pm and 8 pm on Saturday, and at 7 pm on Sunday. Following the performances on Sunday, August 23, is Lisa Race, a Bessie Award winning dancer and also a Yard alumna. She will perform a multi-media piece titled "At Sea." The Saturday matinee is free, and tickets for evening performances are $25, or $50 for premium seating, or $15 for seniors and ages 30 and under. For more information or for reservations, call 508-645-9662 or visit dancetheyard.org.
Baking benefit
Join Joan Nathan, renowned cookbook author and prize-winning culinary expert, for an afternoon of challah bread baking on Friday, August 21. The program, located in West Tisbury in Judith Birsh's kitchen, is an event to raise money for the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center. You will learn how to mix and braid challah dough for traditional Jewish Sabbath loaves that you can also bring home. It is limited to 10 participants for the cost of $50 each. For more information, or to reserve a place, call 508-693-9506.
Thriller
The Foxrock Performance Company presents their play "Frozen" at the Katharine Cornell Theatre for three nights this week. The play is a story about a 10-year-old named Rhona who goes missing. The story then entwines the life of a murderer, his psychologist, and the mother of one of his victims. The play is Monday, August 24, and Wednesday through Friday, August 26-28, at 8 pm each night. General seating is $20. For more information, call 508-627-6676.
Martin Sexton at Nectar's
American folk singer Martin Sexton will perform at Nectar's, located near the Martha's Vineyard Airport, this Saturday, August 22. A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Mr. Sexton got his start singing on the streets around Harvard Square. Known for his heartfelt performances, Mr. Sexton's brand of hearty, soulful folk music has earned him much success and a wide following. Tickets cost $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
