Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: December 17, 2009
The town looks so lovely and serene as you drive down the hill on New York Avenue and approach the harbor area. To your left you will view the soft lights on many small Christmas trees reflecting their glow out into the harbor. And new this year, on your right, there is a lighted tree floating on a raft in the middle of Sunset Lake. What a beautiful, peaceful picture and town it presents. Thank you to everyone who made all of this beauty possible.
If you haven't quite caught the spirit of Christmas yet, you definitely will by attending the 13th annual Reflections of Peace concert to celebrate and benefit Hospice of M.V., which will be held tonight at 7:30 pm. The event is hosted at the Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs. Candlelight, roses, and warm friendship welcome all as they arrive. This year's musical guests include the a cappella group Novum, soloists Abigail Southard and Joyce Maxner, Rebecca Barca-Tinus on violin, Sandra Bitterman on Harp, Jan Hyer on cello, Peter Boak and Wesley Brown on piano and organ, and more. The event is privately funded, with 100 percent of ticket revenue and donations going to Hospice. It is a beautiful evening, celebrating beautiful Islanders, and would make a great Christmas present for that hard to shop for friend.
Our library is offering a Martha's Vineyard History story time on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 11 am. There will be books about Martha's Vineyard for younger and older children and a coloring/art project will follow for all ages. On Wednesday, Dec. 23, at 10:30 am the toddler and preschool story time will have a Christmas theme. The same group, for ages 2 to 5 years, will be on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 10:30 with stories about Kwanzaa. Book clubs will resume in January after the holidays.
The Oak Bluffs Public Library would like to remind community members that it is offering fine amnesty between Tuesday, Dec. 15, and Saturday, Dec. 19. During this time, library patrons may bring a donation of a non-perishable food item(s) to the library, along with any library materials that are overdue. The fines will be waived on these materials for making a donation to the Island Food Pantry. Thank you for supporting Island community members in need.
My best Christmas present arrived early on December 12 when my granddaughter Talia Rogers and Sean Geddis became parents of a son, Isaiah Dennis John, giving me my first great-grandchild. Little Isaiah was named after his two great-grandfathers and was joyfully welcomed by his grandmother Mary Alley, grandfather Dale Rogers, three great-grandmothers, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Kristin Siple Marathas called me with the good news that on December 11, her husband Steven graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Municipal Academy. Congratulations.
Adult and Community Education (ACE MV) 2010 winter classes at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School will begin in January. You may sign up online and check the classes offered at acemv.org or call 508-693-1033 ext. 240 for more information.
Beginning in January, busses picking up students in the afternoon will assemble in the rear of the school, next to the grade one through five playground. This change is being made in order to better insure safety, as well as to alleviate issues of overcrowded parking at the end of the day. Important school dates to remember are December 23: 1/2 day; winter break is December 24 through January 3, 2010: school will reopen on Jan. 4, 2010. A follow-up flu clinic will be held on January 7, 2010.
We send birthday smiles to Pat Law and Debra Alley on December 14, Mike Marchand on the 15th, Bill Jones on December 21, and Rae Carter, Sandra deBettencourt and Bertie Madeiras share the 22nd.
Enjoy your week.
Peace.
