Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: December 10, 2009
A holiday tradition on Martha's Vineyard, the Nutcracker Gala, was performed last weekend. This provided an excellent opportunity for young and old alike to experience the world of ballet and live theater right here. The Nutcracker Gala featured the Atlantic Coast Ballet (formerly Cape Cod Ballet) with a cast of 14 professional dancers, under the artistic direction of Tanya Vincent. Also performing were the children from the Martha's Vineyard School of Ballet under the artistic direction of Beth Vages, bringing a total cast of 75 dancers to the stage. Oak Bluffs children in the cast included Makenzie Luce, Matthew Luce, Elizabeth O'Brien, Avalon Weiland, Sophia Kokoszka, Ava McGee, Jocelyn Baliunas, and Lily Moran. Parents Elizabeth Convery Luce and Mark Luce also were in the ballet.
The holiday party sponsored by Friends of the Library will take place on Friday, Dec. 11, from 1 until 4 pm. The library Friends invite the community to attend the annual holiday party at the library. There will be good cheer, seasonal refreshments, and entertainment for all ages. Location: Meeting Room.
Don't miss the Breakfast with Santa scholarship fundraiser sponsored by the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from this event benefit the Jim Lambert Memorial Scholarship Fund, providing financial assistance for Vineyard students enrolled in post-secondary programs. This year the benefit breakfast will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13, at The Wharf Restaurant in Edgartown from 8 to 10:30 am. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, and home fries will be served. The admission fee is $4 per child and $8 per adult. Photos with Santa are $5 (cash only). For more information, contact the Chamber at 508-693-0085 ext. 10.
Please join Mark Hoover for an informal presentation at the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center to learn how to protect your home and family from the risks involved when underage drinking occurs. The presentation will run from 7 to 8:30 pm.
The American Legion in Vineyard Haven will hold a Wreaths Across America ceremony, noon on Saturday, December 12. This is a program that provides wreaths for veterans' graves across the country, and after the ceremony the Boy Scouts of America will assist Legion members in placing wreaths on graves in Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven.
Hospice of Martha's Vineyard seeks unique handmade gifts including jewelry, needlepoint, knitted items, paintings, photographs, cards, toys, cakes, candies, cookies, Christmas ornaments, and more during their Handmade from the Heart sale, which will be held at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House during the Christmas in Edgartown weekend on Saturday, December 12, from 10 am to 4 pm. Someone will pick them up, or you may drop them off at the office. If you wish to donate items to Handmade from the Heart for Hospice, please call 508-693-0189.
Red Stocking Week takes place this week at the Oak Bluffs School. Red Stocking is Martha's Vineyard's way of giving itself a warm hug. This year more than ever, a growing number of families are in need and will rely on the Red Stocking Fund. The school wants to foster the true spirit of giving, and for the last several years, they have helped the Red Stocking Fund by bringing in donations, and in turn, the students receive a sticker.
Story time continues at the Oak Bluffs Library, with Wednesday, Dec. 16 being Toddler and Preschool story time, reading about Chanukah for ages two to five years, at 10:30 am.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, from 6 until 7:45 pm, join local author Tom Dresser at the library, as he discusses his new novel "It Was 40 Years Ago Today." There will be refreshments, Beatles music, and a chance to win a door prize. This event is sponsored by the Library Friends of Oak Bluffs.
The Oak Bluffs School is selling beautiful paperwhite flower bulbs in decorative containers on Friday, Dec. 11, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm in the front school lobby. The prices range from $7 to $20. They're perfect for holiday decorating or gifts.
The Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard needs your help. So far, all of the operating funds for the new Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard are coming from donations from the community, but there are quite a few things that money is still needed for, including a heating system, fencing, etc.
Adopt-A-Pet is running a nationwide contest, with $10,000 going to the animal shelter that gets the most votes. Visit the link below and enter your zip code and then look for and vote for the Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard and forward the link to as many Islanders as you can. If we can spread this link across the Island, we really could win: care2.com/animal sheltercontest.
We send birthday smiles to Jenna Gosson and Chuck Lehman on December 12, and to Peter Tennant on the 13th. Enjoy your week. Peace.
