Town Column : Oak Bluffs
By Megan Alley
Published: February 18, 2010
Way back in 1971, when he had just turned one year old, a young boy spent his first winter on the Island while his parents were doing some work on a local restaurant they owned in Oak Bluffs. Hilde Combra made his first cake, and she still remembers the day that she did. Now Bill Giordano, the son of Buster and Valerie Giordano, will turn 40 years old on February 18 . He lives in Oak Bluffs with his wife, Jackie, and their three children and they are wishing him a very happy birthday. Time goes by so very quickly.
Tim Boland, director of Polly Hill Arboretum, will give a winter gardening talk at the Oak Bluffs Library meeting room on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6 until 7:45 pm. The theme of the talk is Witch-hazels - Cure for the Winter Blues.
Join Mr. Boland as he tells the story of this unique group of winter flowering shrubs. The species, which grows naturally on the Vineyard, is used to make the famed medicinal extract.
The Middle School Book Club meeting on Saturday, February 20, will be reading the book "Horns and Wrinkles." The program runs from 2:30 to 3:30 pm for grades five through eight. Please pre-register in the Children's Room.
There will be many temporary jobs starting at the end of March for helping take the 2010 federal census. It involves going door to door with questionnaires and there is a test for potential employees. The hours are pretty flexible and the rate of pay is $16 per hour. Anyone interested may contact the Hyannis office at 866-861-2010, toll-free.
The second grade annual Island Food Pantry food drive has been taking place all week. Students have been receiving donations from every classroom each day. They've tallied more than 1,000 food items this week. Thanks to students, staff , families, and all who made this wonderful donation possible.
Sometime this week, students in grades K-5 will be receiving their report cards, which reflect the mid-point of the school year and provide a half year assessment of progress in school thus far.
School will be closed next week starting Monday, February 22 for the winter vacation. It re-opens on Monday, March 1.
Kate Feiffer will teach a class on writing children's books as part of ACE MV's spring session. She encourages anyone who is working on a children's book, or has thought about writing one, to sign up. Registration for all ACE MV classes begins this week.
The Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School invites interested members of the Island community to a screening of the documentary film "Coal Country" at 10 am Saturday, February 20. Admission is free, but donations to the MVPCS Science lab project are welcome. "Coal Country" reveals the truth about how energy is produced.
We send birthday smiles to Carrie Tankard and Joel Rebello on February 18, followed by Patti Linn the next day. Judy Bobier, who works the counter at MV Gourmet Bakery and always has a kind word for her customers, many of whom are her friends, on February 21; Kaitlin Marchand and Rita Jeffers on February 22; and Melanie Marchand and Kristin MacLean on February 23.
Enjoy your week.
Peace.
