Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: February 4, 2010
The hearts are coming, Valentine hearts that is - don't forget February 14. Here are a couple of events that you might be interested in to celebrate this "lovely" holiday.
All Island church women are invited to the Valentine tea on February 11 at 1:30 pm at the Federated Church Parish Hall in Edgartown. The program includes Phil Dietterich on piano, Jan Hyer on cello, and Matt Pelikan on recorder. Come and enjoy little sandwiches and a spot of tea. There is no admission charge.
And you can follow this up with a Valentine's Day weekend pancake breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging. The breakfast also includes bacon and eggs, and raffle items. Tickets are $ 7 for adults and $4 for children, and benefit the Friends of the OBCOA.
The Island Housing Trust is pleased to announce a homebuyer application and selection process for four two-bedroom homes and three three-bedroom homes at Eliakim's Way at 250 State Road in West Tisbury.
Applications are available at the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority in Vineyard Haven, or download an application at ihtmv.org/application.shtml. The deadline for submission is February 12. Attendance at a Homebuyer Training is required.
Last Saturday the Island Grown Schools hosted a greenhouse clean-up. Parent, teacher, and friend volunteers lent a hand sweeping, organizing, and re-arranging the greenhouse. Rhonda Albert, an active parent volunteer with two children in the O.B. School said, "The greenhouse is a hidden gem for the school. It needs to be reintroduced to the kids and teachers."
During the week of February 8 through 12, the PTO will be sponsoring a coin drive to benefit the Blake/Burney/Yasinsky family who lost everything in a fire on November 2. Malik Burke, and Mercedes and Aaliyah Burney are students here at the Oak Bluffs School and their mother Alexis, along with her fiancé Keith Yasinsky need our help. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, this would be a fitting time to show some love to this family. The school will be collecting coins of any denomination during that week. Starting on Monday, Feb. 8, they will collect six coins; on Tuesday, Feb. 9, we will collect seven coins, and so on. When you donate the amount of coins for that day, you will receive a heart cutout to write your name or special message on that will be hung on the walls. You may also donate with a check made out to Bank of Martha's Vineyard where the family has a fund set up. There will be heart-shaped cans for donations set up in each classroom and there will also be one in the main office. No donation is too small - every penny will make a difference to this family. Please see Michelle in the office if you have any questions.
Dates to remember at the school are: February 5: Talent Show at 6:30 pm; February 9: girls basketball at O.B. vs. West Tisbury; February 15: No school for President's Day.
Congratulations to the Oak Buffs girls basketball team in their undefeated regular season, with a strong win over Edgartown on Tuesday. The girls' semi-final game is at home against West Tisbury on February 9, with the winner going to the finals.
At last Friday's Community Meeting good-byes were said to Martina Avalina, the K-2 special education teacher, who is retiring after 11 years at the Oak Bluffs School. We wish Martina the best in her retirement and thank her for her years of service.
American Legion Post 257 in Vineyard Haven wishes to congratulate the Boy Scouts of America who will celebrate their 100th birthday on February 8. The Legion will be holding their monthly breakfast on Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Legion Hall in Vineyard Haven. The breakfast takes place between 8 and 10 am and is only $6 for a delicious start to the day and your week.
We send birthday smiles to Chloe Hoyt, Marc Rivers, Sally Scott, and Gerry DeBettencourt on February 7; Adam Barmakian, Nelson deBettencourt, and Richard J. Mavro on February 10; and Juanita Suarez Espeno on the 11th.
Enjoy your week.
Peace.
