Saturday morning at 6 am the sun was starting to lighten up the sky and within two hours it was as black as night as those tremendous thunderstorms crashed in. The noise sounded like the sound track from one of those old black-and-white World War Two movies in the midst of a bombing scene. But as it always does, the sun has come out again, and now the weather has changed entirely.
My yellow Lab, sweet Sophie, missed her 15th birthday by a matter of hours. On Memorial Day evening she suddenly got ill and collapsed. A trip to the Vineyard Vet Clinic revealed many problems and a suspected cancer. So with tears in our hearts and eyes we made the difficult but loving decision that it was time to let her go. I cannot praise Drs. Williams and Dunnigan enough for their compassionate care for so many years and the gentle and respectful way that they assisted her on her last journey. Her 15th birthday would have been June 1, and I know that she had an unusually long and happy life. But how I miss her running to greet me with her “Lab wag,” carrying one of her toys in her mouth and brightening my day. I am so grateful for the 15 years of joyful memories she left me.
The Friday Conversations program at the Oak Bluffs Senior Center will have Polly Brown and Jane Hawkes of Vineyard Village at Home as their guest speakers on Friday, June 18. Vineyard Village at Home is a volunteer organization offering support services for older Islanders who need a little extra help to remain in their homes.
The library continues with its programs throughout the summer. On Wednesday, June 16, from 10:30 to 11:15 the Toddler Storytime for ages 1.5 to 3 will feature cats, as will the preschool story time for ages 2 to 5 from 11:30 to 12:15. On Saturday, June 19, from 11:00 to 11:45, there will be a Father’s Day Surprise Storytime.
Oak Bluffs school students Belle Dinning, Angela Hayes, Emily Moore, and James Robinson, and Charter School student Danielle Hopkins all have roles in “My Mom is Trying To Ruin My Life,” which will be running at The Vineyard Playhouse over the next two weekends. The play was adapted by MJ Bruder Munafo from Kate Feiffer’s book of the same name.
The annual Oak Bluffs School Fine Arts Night is Tuesday evening, June 15th, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. This is always an outstanding evening in which to browse through arts and crafts presentations, reflecting the hard work that the arts programs have done with their students over the year. The arts viewing will be from 6 to 7 pm, and will be followed by a 4th-5th grade concert from 7 to 7:30.
And save June 16 for the 8th grade graduation at 5:30 pm.
Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is having an auction to benefit their residents’ activity programs. They have a very small budget for entertainers and outings and this auction is an important part of their annual fundraising.
These funds are used to take the residents on outings to Home Port, Farm Neck, Grace Church for lobster rolls, the Minnesingers, Community Chorus, and plays, as well as bringing in entertainers, exercise programs, and many more activities. Auction items include a trip to France, a sailing cruise with lobsters and champagne, a day trip for two on a Black Dog Tall ship, and a handmade quilt. The auction is June 11 from 6 to 8 pm at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury. In addition to the silent and live auctions, there will be a raffle, hors d’oeuvres, and wine. Trip Barnes as auctioneer is worth the price of admission (zero) alone.
The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on June 15 at 1 pm at the Old Mill on Edgartown Road in West Tisbury. Seasonal resident and Vineyard artist Nancy Noble Gardiner will present her beautiful flower photography. A hospitality hour with refreshments will follow the program. The cost for guests is $5; there is no cost for members.
We send birthday smiles to Hilde Combra on June 11, Maryanne Alwardt on June 13, Jaime Young on June 14, and Arthur Pye on June 15. Let’s all celebrate Flag Day on June 14 by flying the flag proudly.
Enjoy your week.
Peace
