Summer has arrived, bringing rain, thunder, and great wind gusts, and of course many more people. The weather has actually been quite nice, and we did need the rain. The last day of school was this past Monday, so remember to please drive carefully, as enthusiastic children are not always aware of traffic.
Because of ongoing renovations at Niantic Park, the Oak Bluffs Summer Basketball program will not be held as usual this year. However, Basketball Camp for boys and girls 7 to 13 years old will be held on Mondays through Thursday from 9 am to noon. The camp will be at the Oak Bluffs School gym, and run by MVRHS boys varsity Coach Mike Joyce, winner of the Boston Globe and Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year award. What a great opportunity for these children.
On June 20th my husband, a retired Oak Bluffs Fire Department chief, celebrated his 80th birthday. Family members visited him at his home in Windemere to wish him well, and then in the evening we all gathered for a cookout party at our daughter, Kati Alley’s house. Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren celebrated his milestone birthday with great food, fun games, and great memories. Of course the birthday boy was not able to be there, but those of you who know him realize it was exactly the kind of party he would have loved, as he didn’t have to attend. A party guy he never was. Our son, Dion Alley, traveled from far-away Ohio so he could get his birthday wishes in also.
The library has more events than ever. A new program, “Story Time in the Park,” will take place every Tuesday starting July 7 at 10 am. The program will be held in Hartford Park in Oak Bluffs. Join Miss Sondra for songs and stories outside. Canceled in inclement weather. Little Yogis will take place every Thursday, starting July 9, from 4 to 4:45 pm at the Oak Bluffs Public Library. This is a weekly drop-in yoga class with Sondra on the lawn for ages 4 to 11 (bring a towel or a mat). Canceled in inclement weather. And then we have a one-time-only July special. On Tuesday, July 7, at 3:30 pm, there will be a “Teen DIY” craft at the library. You will be decorating a giant banner.
The Tabernacle is celebrating its 180th anniversary this summer, 1835 to 2015. They have planned an amazing summer of special events. The first event is a fundraiser for the Tabernacle Preservation Fund. On Saturday, July 11 at 8 pm, they will present “Story for a Starry Night for Love of a Small Island.” It will feature stories by our own Susan Klein, images by Alan Brigish, and music by Gary Girourd. Tickets are $25, and are available at MVCMA.org, at the Cottage Museum Shop and at the door. Doors will open at 7:30 pm.
Friday Morning Conversations at the Oak Bluffs Senior Center, on July 17 from 10 to 11:30 am will have Tom Dresser as the guest speaker. Tom will discuss his newest book, “Martha’s Vineyard: A History.” The book is an overall history of the Vineyard.
On Friday, July 24, from 10 to 11:30 am, the Morning Conversations program will have as their guest the Oak Bluffs library circulation manager, Anna Marie D’Addarie. Anna Marie will speak about the history of boxing, the boxer, the ethnic groups, modern-day boxers, and the future of boxing. If there is time and interest, there will be a demonstration.
The 11th annual Della Hardman Day celebration will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at 4 pm in Ocean Park. This event, sponsored by the Town of Oak Bluffs and the Della Hardman Day Committee, chaired by Gretchen T. Underwood, celebrates community, culture, and a zest for living as exemplified by Della Hardman (1922–2005), an artist, educator, and writer. Following her death, the Town of Oak Bluffs voted to honor her memory in perpetuity on the last Saturday of July. This annual event is held under a tent near the gazebo in Ocean Park. This year the guest speaker is Cornell William Brooks, the 18th president and CEO of the NAACP.
The Friends of Oak Bluffs Council on Aging is once again sponsoring a Foxwoods Trip. The date is July 28, and the cost is $30, plus your SSA boat ticket and spending money. Call Rose at 508-693-4509, ext. 3, to register and for information.
We send birthday smiles to Rahmale Hopkins and Deborah deBett-Ratcliff on July 3, Joe Also on the 4th, James Cage on July 5, Barbara Fehl and Pam Gibson on the 6th. Erin Pacheco, Donald Billings, and Karen Hunt Torrance share the 7th, and Nicholas Mathias has the 9th.
Enjoy your week. Peace.