Well, our town meeting and elections are over for this year. The results have left some people happy and some not, but let’s hope we can get over our differences and work on those things we all agree on for the good of our town, perhaps a bit better than our federal government counterparts have done thus far.
Easter weekend was a beautiful gift to all with its sunshine and warmth. How quickly we can forget the barren, cold winter when we are greeted by the vista of blue skies, colorful flowers, and especially the sight of families being reunited with their parents, children, and friends for a holiday celebration. One family that was happily surprised was the Michael and Erin deBettencourt family, when their daughter Katherine, better known as Kat, made a surprise visit to her family home, with no one expecting her to come up from Florida for this weekend. Needless to say, there were happy hugs and greetings all around upon her arrival.
As part of Grace Episcopal Church’s Easter season celebration, they will be presenting a performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” Part III, next Sunday, April 23. The performance will start at 4 pm with Philip Dietterich conducting and David Rhoderick as organist. The chorus includes singers from Grace Church, the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, and the community. Soloists include Molly Conole, David Behnke, Martha Hudson, Dorian Lopes, and Becky Williams. This event is free, and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy this afternoon of beautiful music.
Every year the Cape and Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross honors citizens who performed a heroic deed over the past year, at a Heroes Breakfast ceremony. This year Oak Bluffs resident Cliff Robinson was one of those receiving a Heroes Award. Last January a woman was seriously burned in a fire; her neighbor Cliff was awakened hearing someone yelling, and went across the street to the burning house. Cliff entered the house with the woman’s husband and pulled her to safety. Thanks to his efforts and those of first responders, the woman survived, and is now doing well. Congratulations, Cliff.
And in more news about the Robinson family, we offer congratulations to Cliff and Jennifer’s son Paul, who was recently inducted into the Math Honor Society at Bridgewater State College, where he is a junior. Paul’s brother James has been accepted at UMass, and will be a freshman there next year. I have a feeling we will be hearing a great deal about these young men in the future.
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services continues with its programs assisting parents with support and help navigating the many, sometimes difficult, paths of parenting. One of the programs, “Parenting Journeys,” is a support group for parents raising a child up to 8 years old with special needs. The next meeting is on Wednesday, April 26, from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Family Center. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Preregistration is required, and you my do so by calling 508-687-9182.
Kids, head to our Oak Bluffs library this Saturday, April 22, for an Earth Day Planting activity. From 10 to 11:30 am, you will be planting vegetable and/or flower seeds, and then take them home to sprout and transplant into your garden. Hopefully the weather will permit this to be an outside activity.
And for adults, also on Saturday the 22nd, the program “Our Smart Home” will teach you about using IFTTT to live in the future; it will be presented in the meeting room. Some of the possibilities ahead will be turning on lights when you pull into your driveway, matching lighting with music, avoiding watering plants in the rain, and more. Find out how to use smart devices.
We send birthday smiles to Shelby Ponte on April 22, Gloria Steere on the 23rd, Peter Martell and James Moreis Jr. on April 24. Donna Pacheco, Andy Farrissey, and Lorraine Clark celebrate on the 25th, Patrick Garrett the next day, and my granddaughter Paige Alley on April 27.
Enjoy your week. Peace.