Monday morning the view across the water towards the mainland was magnificent. The ocean was like a mirror and scattered across the sky were puffs of white clouds that looked liked whipped cream placed there by a bubble pipe. This scene was so serene that it seems impossible that July 4th weekend will be here in just a few days. Perhaps it was a moment to relax and enjoy in peace before the onslaught of crowds, cars, people, and noise that will soon be the view we see.
A recent visitor to Oak Bluffs was Marybeth Grande Naron of Montclair, Virginia. Marybeth is the daughter of the late Dom and Penny Grande. You might remember Penny as a former Home Economics teacher at the Oak Bluffs School. Marybeth was delivering her daughter Mae to Crew Camp in Boston and visited Patsy and Stuart Gentch and Pat and Kerry Alley among others, while she was here.
Ian Thompson is here from St. Pete Beach, Florida, for the summer and is working for his grandfather Bill Anderson of Anderson Bike Rentals. Bill has been renting out bikes for 41 years and Ian is following in the footsteps of his mother Kristen Anderson, Aunts Kathy Farrissey, Gretchen, Uncle Bill, his cousins Billy Anderson, Matt Stamus, Andy and Will Farrissey, and Colleen Farrissey in working for Bill. Each had their turn of working at the popular bike shop down by the harbor as they entered their teen years.
Melissa Breese just opened the Shephard FineArt Space on 8 Uncas Avenue, 508-693-8001. A few events that are coming up through July. First, Saturday last there was an opening reception for the Multicultural arts & crafts show, with live music by a Cape Verde band from New Bedford. This show which runs through July 1st, includes art by Angel Quinonez, of Amity Ink, Haitian Peace Quilts, and Zambian crafts. Then on Saturday, July 2, come and join jazz pianist Marc Carey at an NAACP benefit.
The schedule for the Band Concerts in Ocean Park has been set. Regular Sunday night Vineyard Haven Band concerts at the bandstand will take place July 3, 17, 31, and August 14. Illumination Night concert will be held on August 17, and fireworks, including a concert in the park, will be on August 19. You will be missing a wonderful summer tradition if you miss the concerts.
There will be a free pancake breakfast to honor our veterans and celebrate our freedom on Monday, July 4, at the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Merchants Mart in Vineyard Haven across the street from SBS from 8:30 to 10 am. A veteran will be there to share experiences with everyone. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge. Pancakes, sausage, fruit and juice will be served and local Cub Scouts will begin things with the pledge of allegiance.
I received the following email message this week so am reprinting it here un-edited.
“Can I suggest you do some investigation and interviews regarding the Town beach which was completely covered over with Sengekontacket sludge resulting in grey dirt interspersed with millions of shell fragments. The dunes have been completely covered and the total elevation of the beach was raised, creating an 18- to 24-inch drop between the newly laid dirt and that which has been washed by the waves. Additionally, the beach section closest to the Steamboat wharf was not expanded at all and the waves at high tide come all the way up to the rocks. Was there any public discussion regarding how this project would be performed? Quite simply, this beach is substantially worse than it was a year ago.” Can anyone supply any answers to this reader’s statements?
Oak Bluffs resident Brenda Wallis has a full schedule at the Mansion House Health Club, teaching a variety of strength training and cardio workouts. She combines a variety of exercise modalities and equipment to make her workouts unique and challenging for all fitness levels. So check with the Mansion House for her schedule if you are interested.
To benefit Habitat for Humanity, a storytelling concert by Susan Klein will be held at the Performing Arts Center at MVRHS on Saturday July 9 from 7 to 8:30 pm. A reception and book signing will follow. Come and join in for a heartfelt and humorous evening of stories about growing up on the Vineyard.
Archer Butler, whose first birthday was on June 28, celebrated on June 26 with a huge party at the home of his parents, Olivia and Nicholas, and big sister, Delilah. Archer celebrated with a bounce house provided by MV Bounce House rentals and lots of fun and games, not to mention a DJ named Dwight Gardner.The birthdays of his grandfather Jack Law of Oak Bluffs and family friend Nancy Clarke of Edgartown birthdays were also celebrated on Sunday at the party. Fun was had by all and the party kept going into the night.
Rick and Emme Brown, year-round residents of Oak Bluffs, will be having an art show, a Celebration of Island Art, at Featherstone Center for the Arts in the Pebble Gallery.The opening reception is Thursday, June 30, from 4 to 6 pm and the show continues through July 3. This father/daughter duo use the Island and its seafaring community as inspiration in their daily work and in creating their art. Rick, a local boat builder, can be found most days at either his shop, Far Cry Boats, at Maciel Marine in Vineyard Haven or out on the water. Emme recently graduated from Clark University and has returned to the Island full time, working at Featherstone and performing marketing responsibilities for the Martha’s Vineyard Arts Collaborative. She is the Curator of the 16-show lineup in the Pebble Gallery that opens every Thursday throughout the summer featuring fresh art from local Island Artists. The show continues through July 3.
We send birthday smiles to Madeleine Alley on July 1, Deborah deBettencourt, Ratcliff and Rahmale Hopkins on July 3, Joe Alosso and Bob Hughes on July 4, Jim Cage on the 5th, and Barbara Fehl on July 6.
Enjoy your week.
Peace.
