The weather could not have been better for last week’s celebration of the fair, Illumination Night, and the Oak Bluffs Fire Department Fireworks. I was lucky, I thought, to find a good parking space for the fireworks across the street from the Lookout Tavern. But then a very nice gentleman knocked on the car window and said, “You can’t park here.” I was a bit bewildered as there were no signs, barriers, etc., prohibiting parking in the area. He said the spaces were reserved for the Police Department. So I naively asked if he were a policeman and he responded yes. I moved the car, and when I saw law enforcement and unmarked cars parking in that area and then the arrival of our president, I thought, Wow, glad I didn’t ask to see his badge! But all is well that ends well, and I found a parking space near the end of the boardwalk and was able to have a magnificent view of those wonderful fireworks. The other nice result of this parking snafu was that I heard a great number of compliments regarding the boardwalk. So many people were absolutely awed by how great it was as they walked along the waterfront. Good job, Oak Bluffs.
If you happened to have driven up Wing Road last Sunday evening, perhaps you thought you had fallen asleep and had just woken up four months later, because as you passed the residence of Eleanor Amaral it was “Christmas in August.” Eleanor’s sister Susan Klein celebrated a milestone birthday on the previous Friday, and her imaginative family thought up a different theme for the celebration. There were Christmas trees, decorations, lights, and all the eye-catching attractions that go along with that holiday. Presents for the Yankee swap game were wrapped in holiday paper, of course, and everyone got into the holiday-birthday spirit. People are used to large family gatherings at the Amaral household, but this one certainly did “take the cake.” I am sure Susan will never forget this birthday.
Our library, which never slowed down one bit during the summer, still has some great programs planned. There will be a Wii-U afternoon on August 26 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm for kids 8-plus. Don’t think grownups are left out of this fun, as Grownup-Wii night will be held on August 26 from 5:30 to 7 pm.
Family Board Game Night will be on August 30 from 6 to 8 pm, and the Forever Young Book Club the same date from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. If you want to learn more about computers, come to the coffee and computers program on August 31 from 10:30 to 11:30 am.
Have you noticed the new Massachusetts Martha’s Vineyard registration plates appearing on cars these past few weeks? Although choosing a plate number will no longer be an option, the Registry of Motor Vehicles has indicated that the MV specialty plates will be available for order again at all full-service Massachusetts RMV locations and through the Massachusetts RMV website by the end of September 2016. Plate numbers 1 through 11 have been reserved and will be auctioned off in the coming year.
The following is a copy of a petition that has been forwarded to Stephanie Pollack, secretary and chief executive, Office of the Department of Transportation, and Governor Charlie Baker: “We call for the riders of scooters/mopeds on Martha’s Vineyard and the rest of the state to be allowed to rent such motor vehicles only when they carry licenses similar to those required of motorcycle drivers. Rental companies shall rent only to drivers who carry such a license.”
If you support this petition, please forward a copy of this to the governor. The group that has started this petition also stated the reasoning behind their action, which is “the number of deaths, injuries, and dismemberments on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard during the summer months is no longer acceptable. The speed at which these vehicles travel is disruptive to an already overcrowded road system, and the drivers of such vehicles are not properly trained on how to operate them, resulting in death and or injury every year.”
The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital invites you to participate in their 28th annual 5K Sullivan Run/Walk on August 27. The diaper derby, new this year, is at 8:30 am, kids’ fun run (10 and under) at 8:45 am, walkers at 9 am, and runners at 9:30 am. For more information, call 508-693-4645 or go to bit.ly/sullivanwalkrun.
We send birthday smiles to Ken Rusczyk on August 26, Erika Bettencourt on the 27th, grandson Chris Alley, Andrew and Matt Marchand, and Anne Lemenager on the 28th, Liz Wilson on the 29th, Pam Melrose on August 30, Nancy Giordano and Sean Flynn on the 31st, and Tony Ferreira and Anne Davey on Sept. 1.
Enjoy your week. Peace.