Oak Bluffs has long been a town of multiple personalities — some exuberant, some rough and tumble, some flashy and artistic, some quietly generous. One of our least favorites, the one that is prone to recklessness after a few drinks, seemed to dominate last weekend. The police log tells the story of a raucous Saturday night marred by a range of bad behavior and resulting in numerous arrests. Reviewing the weekend, town officials were careful not to blame the Monster Shark Tournament, but count us among those who are glad to see it over.

Oak Bluffs is far better served by a different kind of celebration. Della Hardman Day, named in honor of the artist, educator and writer who knew how to embrace life, marks its eighth year starting at 4 p.m. tomorrow with a reading by poet Nikki Giovanni under a tent in Ocean Park. It closes on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the East Chop Lighthouse with a performance by Jim Thomas and the Spirituals Choir, along with dancer Christina Montoya.

This week, Della Hardman’s daughter, Andrea Taylor, and close friend Betty Rawlins credited the Oak Bluffs selectmen for designating the last Saturday of every July a day in honor of a woman who inspired so many. “Their support is really priceless,” Ms. Taylor said.

Until her death in 2005, Della Hardman was a staple of the Oaks Bluffs social and arts scene, among other things serving for many years as the Oak Bluffs columnist for the Gazette. Her signature phrase, “savor the moment,” could easily be the motto for the town she loved so well.

Oak Bluffs is many things to many people, and its vitality comes from its willingness to accommodate a community that is diverse in every way. That also makes it a tough town to govern.

Oak Bluffs officials were clearly unprepared for the actions of an alcohol-fueled crowd following the shark tournament, but seem eager to understand and take steps to prevent a recurrence of the mess. We respectfully suggest that simply holding the tournament and the Portuguese-American Feast of the Holy Ghost on different weekends may not be the whole answer.

The selectmen deserve credit for preserving the legacy of Della Hardman, a woman who stood for what is best about this unruly and wonderful town. As they consider plans for next summer, perhaps they can be guided a bit more by her spirit.