My favorite, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, has these words of wisdom: “Scientists estimate that a single ragweed plant can release 1 billion grains of pollen over the course of a season.” That explains the sneezes and coughing around our neighborhood. But let’s concentrate on the beauty of all the gardens and shrubs that have thrived in this rainy weather instead of the loss of sunny days. We have a lot of summer ahead and there must be some sunshine hidden in there.
Well, the July 4th celebration weekend was more of a sizzle than a bang, but the 4th itself was somewhat better. At least the rainy, misty weather seemed to discourage many different private firecracker parties, so anyone affected by explosive noises endured a calmer weekend and our animals were safe. But this Monday seems sunnier and the dog and I are prepared to take precautions with a thundershirt available and the basement door open with fans running to provide a buffer against the noise.
In case you missed it, the Niantic Park Summer Basketball Camp is in session. Monday through Fridays, from 8 to 10 am, is for ages 7 through 10, and from 10 to noon is for ages 11 through 13. Space is limited to the first 25 players who show up each day. Sign-up is at the court office.
If the Fourth of July weekend took place with somewhat dismal weather, you can look forward to the Grand Illumination Night at the Tabernacle in the Campground in Oak Bluffs. This event will bring forth colorful light from beautiful lanterns around 8 pm that night.
Our Oak Bluffs library invites young readers to sign up for the 2021 Summer Reading Program on Beanstack, which allows families to log and track reading either at bit.ly/3yu7HDq or on the free mobile app for Apple and Android. Log your reading and earn virtual badges for your reading milestones and enter the weekly gift card giveaways. Read for a total of nine hours by the end of the summer and enter the grand prize drawing for a chance to win a backpack full of a dozen brand new books selected just for you. For more information, visit the Beanstack page on the library website.
On Thursday, July 8, from 7 to 8 pm Join the Zoom Meeting for The Why’s and When’s of Car Maintenance, which will help you get an overview of car maintenance from Chaya Milchtein of Mechanic Shop Femme. Email ccooney@clamsnet.org for a link or info. Questions are encouraged, so come prepared to learn maintenance in a way you never have before.
An author talk with Marty Barrett’s “Limericks of Loss And Regret” will take place via Zoom meeting on Wednesday, July 14, from 7 to 8 pm. This delightful volume contains 50 short stories and 50 limericks. Marty Barrett’s book makes more than a few references to Martha’s Vineyard. Visit martybarrett.com.
We send birthday smiles to Nicholas Mathias on July 9, Hope deBettencourt and Josh Correllus on the 10th, Colleen Hickey on the 11th, Lauren Weaver and Jeff LaBell on July 13, David deBettencourt on the 14th, and Dianne Kenney and my grandson Nick Rivers on July 15.
Enjoy your week. Peace.
If you have any Oak Bluffs Town Column suggestions, email Megan Alley, meganislandmegan@comcast.net.
