BETTYE FOSTER BAKER

508-696-9983

(bdrbaker@comcast.net)

“Hope is the thing with feathers/that perches in the soul,” Emily Dickinson wrote. Our welfare, whether personal or global, rests to some extent on hope — a belief within the innermost spirit that there will be a better tomorrow. Dickinson’s use of the bird metaphor who serenades us whether the sea is quiet or stormy, whether it’s morning or noon, carries a subtle, yet complex message in its poetic simplicity, that the bird who sings so sweetly and gives its all is a tough species whose light and airy song is as dependable as night and day — a symbol of hope. They build nests in the eaves of our cottages and are allowed temporary residency until a new generation is born and takes flight. They announce morning’s light, a most reliable clock that helps to define the day’s spirit. Their song has no words, but stretches our imagination beyond comfort and expectation that no matter what happens in our life’s journey, there is hope waiting in the future. In the West African tradition, when the certainty of life is tenuous one must always have hope.

There is a space on our Island to think about this — the Featherstone Labyrinth, a “metaphor for the journey of life,” whose history goes back to the ancient Cretans of Greece and Greek mythology. The labyrinth is described by the arts center as a sacred place to walk, “a right brain task,” which involves that creative side of the brain calling for intuition, innovation and focus as one seeks to find the center. It calls walkers to a path of their own creation — silence, playfulness, prayer and taking in the earth, sky and breath. This is a wonderful spot for children and adults to explore, each in their own way.

On a recent Monday evening, I attended an extraordinary Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society concert at the Whaling Church, sponsored by Sam Feldman, who invited all to come in musical tribute to his wife and my friend, the late Gretchen Feldman who passed last November. William De Rosa, cello, Yoon Kwan, violin, and Carrie Dennis, viola, William DeRosa and Friends, played magnificently. There were no vacant seats in the house. This is an uncommon community, this Martha’s Vineyard of friends and family across the Island who knew Gretchen, a gifted artist, mother, wife and friend. The exquisite romantic Rachmaninoff piece, Sonata in e-flat major for cello and piano, op 19, played by the society’s artistic director, pianist Delores Stevens and William DeRosa was the highlight of the program and dedicated to Gretchen. Sam’s words about the evening and the wife of 53 years, who filled his heart and his life, were given in an elegant embrace of a life shared and loved so deeply. Gretchen will be missed, but her spirit lives on with every paintbrush stroke, musical interlude, and movement of the tall grasses that graced her house in Chilmark, and most especially in our hearts.

I wonder how many children in town know that their summer reading can help our environment? Danguole Budris, library director, and Jessica Bowers, the children’s librarian, have introduced a charity summer reading program. Charity summer reading programs are increasingly popular across the nation. Often children read more when participating in a charity program than toy-incentive programs. Here’s how it works: When the Oak Bluffs children and teens collectively earn 800 Polar Points (800 hours/levels), their charity benefactor, The Black Dog Kids, will donate the money for Oak Bluffs Public Library to adopt a polar bear through the species adoption program of the World Wildlife Fund. Just think: Each child’s reading will help the polar bears struggling with climate change and help planet Earth.

Each year the Cottagers, Incorporated, a nonprofit group established on the Island 53 years ago, put on their exciting African American Cultural Festival, cochaired by committee members A. Lynn Bolles and Joanne H. Edey-Rhodes. This year marks the festival’s fifth year in Oak Bluffs and promises to be outstanding. The festival is a free educational program that will feature an African American marketplace selling crafts, jewelry, clothing and music; African art and history for children, nonprofit services booths and a belly dancing workshop. This year there will be two major talks and book signings for noted Oak Bluffs author Jill Nelson’s latest novel, Let’s Get it On, and Dr. Psyche Williams-Forson, for her prize-winning book Building Houses out of Chicken Bones. Many find the family stories and mini-talks on African American history and culture exceptionally informative, particularly the sharing between presenters and visitors that takes place. Be sure to check out the mini-talk schedule. Chef Deon will provide the food which is always delicious. This festival is not to be missed. Inquiries: 508-693-0426.

Times and highlights follow: Thursday, July 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. is a talk and book signing by Dr. Psyche Williams-Forson, recipient of the American Folklore Society’s prestigious Eli Köngäs-Maranda Prize for her book, Building Houses out of Chicken Bones, at Cottager’s Corner, 57 Pequot avenue. Thursday, July 30, at 11:30 a.m. is a belly dancing workshop with Karen Wilkinson.

On Friday, July 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. Jill Nelson, journalist, author and New York Times book reviewer will discuss her latest novel, Let’s Get It On, which was released in June, at Cottager’s Corner. Earlier that day, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. is a workshop called Using Decoupage in Creating an Africana Motif conducted by Islander, Karen Finley. And at 3:30 p.m. Robert Jones, Esq., nephew and curator for the works of renowned artist, the late Lois Mailou Jones, will give a mini-talk titled, A Martha’s Vineyard Family Story.

Here is a sampling of activities in Oak Bluffs:

Friday, July 24, 8 p.m., at the Tabernacle is Amaryllis and Amaryllis, a mother-daughter piano concert. Proceeds will benefit the Tabernacle Restoration and program funds. Freewill Offering.

Saturday, July 25, in Ocean Park, 4 to 6 p.m. is the Della Brown Hardman Day Jazz Tribute to President Obama.

Saturday, July 25, from 4 to 7 p.m, is a reception for Jo-Anne Bates’ exhibition at Craven Gallery in Vineyard Haven, off Holmes Hole Road: Jo-Anne is renowned for her monotypes which represent a high energy, spontaneous and colorful use of textures, line and movement to create the unexpected. All are welcome.

Sunday, July 26, the Rev. Walter C. Barton, Jr., pastor of the Newman Memorial United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., will preach at Union Chapel, at the south end of Kennebec and Circuit avenues in Oak Bluffs. The service prelude begins at 9:45 a.m. and services at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome to the non-denominational service. Informal summer attire is acceptable.

Sunday, July 26, The Tabernacle: Sunday Service features the Rev. Charles Adams, from Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, Mich.

Sunday, July 26, 9 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church. the Rev. Mark Bozzuti-Jones will be celebrant. He is the priest for pastoral care and nurture at Trinity, Wall Street in New York city, and is the author of eight books including Never Said A Mumbalin’ Word (Augsberg Press). He is the recipient of the Book Producer’s Theologos Award for his children’s book, God Created. Trinity Episcopal Church is opposite the Steamship terminal in Oak Bluffs.

Please save these dates:

Friday, August 7, at 7 p.m. at the Tabernacle: After 10 years of research, author Patricia Sullivan will debut her new book, Lift Every Voice: The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement. Proceeds will benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. Special guest panelists Henry Louis Gates, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Clark Johnson and Margaret Burnham will discuss the book and the epochal story of the struggle for civil rights told through the stories of men and women who fought racial barriers in the North as well as the South, on the street, in the courtroom and in the halls of Congress — keeping the promise of democracy alive from the earliest days of the twentieth century to the triumphs of the 1950s and 1960s. Sheldon Hackney will moderate the panel discussion and panelists will read excerpts from the book, and a question and answer session will follow.

Thursday, August 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. is the Divas Uncorked Wine Sip at Cousen Rose Gallery.

Friday, August 21, Union Chapel, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. is the Black Inventors Showcase Exhibit. Learn about over 80 black inventors whose contributions were significant to America’s development. Sponsors: Association for the Study of African American Life and History.