Grace Church invites you to listen to Philip Mangano, nationally known advocate for the homeless, this Sunday at both the 8 am and 10 am services. On Monday at 7 pm, he will offer conversation on the porch of the Grace Church Rectory, 36 Woodlawn Avenue. All are welcome to all or any of these events. Note that Island clergy and friends invite you to a free program this Wednesday at the West Tisbury library, from 6 to 8 pm, on “The Crisis of Island Homelessness and the Call to Care.”
Delight in the music of your neighbors and friends in the Community Chorus. They perform at the Tabernacle at 7:30 pm on the Fourth. The music is wonderful — and free.
Enjoy the reception for the new “Maritime Show, Sea & Shore” Friday evening from 5 to 7 pm at the Louisa Gould Gallery. See works by Charles Fran Kenney, Frauke Klatt, Paul Beebe, Leslie S. Smith, Alan Eddy, Dorothy Fox, Linda Besse, and Louisa Gould. This will put you in the mood for the Vineyard Cup Regatta.
Sail Martha’s Vineyard is expecting more than 100 sailboats of all descriptions, from schooners to catboats to modern racers, for the Vineyard Cup Regatta next week, from July 8 to 12. The race courses out of Vineyard Haven Harbor will test the skills of the crews and provide great viewing. See racing boats from the East and West Chop Lighthouses, Eastville Beach, State Beach, or the beach at the entrance of Lake Tashmoo. More at vineyardcup.com.
Sail Martha’s Vineyard holds its benefit Seafood Buffet and Auction a week from Thursday at the Tisbury Wharf, starting at 5:30 pm. The harbor offers a beautiful backdrop for a fleet of classic wooden sailboats tied up at the dock for viewing, while everyone enjoys cocktails and listens to the Beetlebung Steel Band. More at sailmv.com.
Johanna and Mike Kobran have a crowd on-Island for a birthday party and family reunion. Johanna’s brother Jon Strolle is turning 75, and the family has gathered to help him celebrate. Jon and his wife Martha came from Marina, Calif., with his two sons and their families: Tom and Kate Strolle, with Owen, of Grass Valley, Calif., and Carl and Adrianne Strolle, with Ed and Max, from Williamstown.
Jon’s nieces and nephew, the Kobran children, are also here: Becky and Jack McCullough of Montpelier, Vt., and their son John from Brooklyn and son Adam with wife Mary and 4-month-old Ada Rose, being introduced to the family at age 4 months. Kathy and Kim Byrd and their son Ben with wife Nell, and son David and friend Katie Babcock, came from Washington, D.C. Maureen and Greg Becker with children Sam, Hannah, and Katie are from Reston, Va. Chris and Ellen Kobran and children Zachary and Emma are here from New York and Brookline. All 31 celebrants are having a wonderful time on the Vineyard.
Ask the one who knows the answers: The Tisbury Senior Center invites you to meet with a SHINE counselor to learn about supplemental health insurance, prescription drug plans, and more. Call 508-696-4205 by Tuesday to make your free appointment to get answers on Thursday, July 9, at the Senior Center.
“Nashville Comes to the Vineyard” is an evening of country music and Southern cooking to benefit the Vineyard Playhouse. Cost is $200, at a private home, on Sunday, July 12, from 6 to 9. RSVP by Friday to geneva@mvplayhouse.org, or call 508-696-6300, ext. 118.
The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society has scholarships for two summer camps: Film Critics Summer Boot Camp and the Smartphone Movie-Making Camp. Scholarships are available for the children of Island residents between the ages of 10 and 15. More: Richard Paradise at rich@mvfilmsociety.com.
Remind the kids that summer reading is fun. They should sign up for summer reading at the Vineyard Haven library. Children sign up at the library, log the books they read, and earn prizes, including T shirts and gift certificates. Teens ages 12 to 18 can register online, then visit the library to claim a prize just for signing up.
Also kids age 12 and up can now come to the library every summer Friday afternoon at 3:30 for Wii games. Next Wednesday afternoon, and on June 22, kids 8 to 11 years old can play Wii games at 3 pm. Tuesday story times for the very little ones continue, with Pete the Cat visiting next Tuesday morning.
Our library also offers a Summer Reading Program for Grownups. Those who keep track of summer reading can win prizes. You create an online account by visiting the library homepage; then log the books you read over the summer, write reviews, and register for prizes.
Celebrate Tisbury’s birthday next Wednesday at the Tisbury Street Fair, with lobster rolls, face painting, pony rides, and a climbing wall, amid happy crowds from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.
Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to Sioux Eagle and Marina Lent. Tomorrow, wish the best to Bob Benson, Cora Medeiros, and Larry Gomez. Wish a bang-up birthday on Saturday to Sue Fairbanks and Steve Nichols. Sunday belongs to Christine Swansey. On Tuesday, Artist Donna Straw will paint the skies. Three cheers and birthday greetings go out on Wednesday to Jynell Kristal and Robert Reed, as well as the Town of Tisbury.
Heard on Main Street: Have a wonderful Fourth.
