TOM DRESSER
508-693-1050
Question of the week: How many people live on the Vineyard? (Answer at end of the column.)
While March rolled in Monday morning with snow, slush and slop, Joyce reported crocuses and daffodil leaves poking through the garden. Plus she heard a chorus of birds twittering. Can pinkletinks be far behind?
In this endless winter, there’s a bit of twitter about entertainment this week. “Our beloved [Vineyard] Playhouse feels a very tight squeeze,” says playhouse President Gerry Yukevich. He explains, “This winter we’ve pulled the belt as tight as we can, but we need your help to make our payments before our curtain can go up once again.” He goes on, “Quality theatre does not live by inspiration alone. If you can, please send us some ‘bread.’” Checks are welcome at The Vineyard Playhouse, P.O. Box 2452, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
Thomas Bena shares that he has the films for the 10th Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival at the Chilmark Community Center, which will be, “transformed into a couch-laden, cocoon-like environment,” for screening on the weekend of March 12 to 14. Visit ticketsmv.com/tmvff2010.
Featherstone’s Francine Kelly announces the free after school teen arts program is in full swing, with classes offered (at no charge) to high school students from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in darkroom photography (Monday), video journalism (Tuesday), pottery (Wednesday) and silk-screening (Thursday). Did we mention the program is free?
And the Oak Bluffs Public Library informs us that at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 the Middle School Book Club meets, featuring the book, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. This is a Newbery Award-winning book (for grades five through eight). Chess and Scrabble flourish Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. All are welcome.
Toddler storytime (Dress Up Fancy) takes place on Wednesday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m., and preschool storytime follows at 11:30 a.m. For older folk, try the Winter Reading Series at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday March 11, when Samuel Leader and Greg Schutz, fiction fellows from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, discuss their literary efforts.
Kate Feiffer will teach a children’s book writing class to adults on Thursday nights through ACE MV. Kate’s class aims to enhance the author’s voice, plot and character, as well as illustrations and how to get published.
With the devastation in Chile, let’s not forget our friends in Haiti, a less-developed country with critical governing issues. Our local Fish Farm project needs donations, at P.O. Box 1803, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
The Oak Bluffs Council on Aging invites quilters to Monday sessions at 1 p.m. with Glenna. Barbara runs a knitting class on Thursday at 1 p.m. And for bridge enthusiasts, there are bridge games and bridge lessons on Tuesday afternoon. Why not drop by and bid a grand slam?
And now, back to the land. When four acres came on the market by little Duarte’s Pond, tucked in a corner of Oak Bluffs near the juncture of Edgartown, Tisbury and West Tisbury, selectmen in Oak Bluffs and Tisbury jumped at the opportunity to preserve the property through the land bank. Though not yet open to the public, it is a property we can look forward to enjoying. The latest parcel, adjacent to Thimble Farm, was added in 2008.
One of my favorite kayak exploits sets off from Pecoy Point Preserve, down Pulpit Rock Road off County Road. This quiet gateway to the charms of Sengekontacket makes it an exclusive opportunity to explore Major’s Cove.
The land bank preserved Pecoy Point’s 17 acres with its bristly foxtail and eastern gamagrass between 1995 and 2001. It is an ideal site for picnics and nature study, as well as a pleasant walk down to the water. Additionally, the land bank graciously permitted the African American Heritage Trail to secure a plaque to a rock that commemorates John Saunders as the preacher who introduced Methodism to the Vineyard.
In personal notes, my wife Joyce has been called back to substitute in the special needs department at the high school through April. And my book proposal was accepted by the History Press to write about the African American experience on the Vineyard.
How many Vineyarders live here? Help count! Steve Auerbach tells us a census job fair takes place tomorrow, March 6, at the Oak Bluffs Library from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a last gasp to count our fellow citizens, beginning April 1. Candidates go door-to-door, with some evening and weekend work, at $16/hour. Over 200 Islanders are needed. Take the test on Saturday, with a passport or two forms of identification. Can we count on you to count the rest of us?
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