“Savor the moment” was the favorite expression of Della Louise Brown Taylor Hardman, a granddaughter of slaves, who was from Charleston, W.V. Born May 20, 1922, Della Hardman went on to earn a bachelor’s in education from West Virginia State College, a master’s from Boston University, her doctorate from Kent State and continued her learning at educational institutions at home and abroad.

As a teacher and lecturer of education and art, it is so warmly appropriate that she will again be fondly remembered Saturday at 4 p.m. in Ocean Park by keynote speaker Henry Louis Gates Jr., who is also from West Virginia. Dr. Gates, a Harvard professor, scholar, filmmaker, journalist, author of 16 books, 13 documentary films, recipient of 52 honorary degrees and awards, will be the speaker at the tenth annual Della Hardman Day. Skip Gates, as he is often called, is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. Joining him will be another of Della’s friends, Martha’s Vineyard storyteller and author Susan Klein.

In addition to penning this column from 1998 to 2005, Della Hardman made a retirement of service to the community. She actively contributed to Featherstone Center for the Arts, the Vineyard Nursing Association, Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society, the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society, the board of directors of the Nathan Mayhew Seminars and was a member of the Oak Bluffs library board of trustees. Della was widely honored and awarded throughout her life and it’s kismet that she was able to attend the first Della Hardman Day in Oak Bluffs before her death at age 83 on Dec. 13, 2005.

At some point I’ll do research and a story on the Camp Ground’s Pink House, one of the most iconic homes on Martha’s Vineyard. It is presently for sale with an asking price of $385,000, if you are interested in owning the subject of one of the most prolific photographs of the Island.

Jimmy Sea’s reopened with new owners last week, evidenced by the lines of customers we’ve become accustomed to.

Next Thursday and Friday the Cottagers’ Inc. is hosting the tenth annual African American Cultural Festival from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Hartford Park across from Cottager’s Corner. The exhibit, Emancipation and Its Legacies, from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will be featured. As part of the festival, at 7 p.m. next Friday at Union Chapel the play Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale will be performed and admission is $15. Remember to make plans for the Cottagers annual fashion show on Thursday, August 7, at Lola’s. The theme is Elegance for this year’s fancy-fest, and tickets are $70, probably available at Cottager’s Corner.

I’m certain you’ll be stunned to know that the Oak Bluffs library has plans. First up is tie-dye Saturday tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. for those 9 and over. Folks young and old tie-dye items of clothing they show up with on the lawn outside. If it rains, it’s cancelled. If it does not, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. there is a Backyard Music Series featuring the Outlaw Jug Band and the Brothers Rye; bring a blanket and friends and meet on the lawn. Those with advanced age might prefer bringing beach chairs — and maybe a jug of rye. Every Saturday features scrabble and chess from 10 a.m. to noon. If you’d like to find out if your pet is psychic (really?), stop by at 6 p.m. Tuesday and meet the Dogfather, Tom Shelby. On Thursday, Vineyard Sound performs out on the lawn for an ice cream social from 3 to 4:30 p.m.; again I suggest the beach chairs, and since there’s no other mention of ice cream, I bet you can find some on Circuit avenue to take with you.

To the folks who’ve been redecorating the jetty at the end of the seawall with stacked rocks; thanks, and keep it up, they look marvelous. Of course the original people used this to mark places of significance, so I hope you had some fun of some type there.

“Savor the moment” meant a lot to a lot of people. I recall with a smile recall having those moments every time I saw Della at the post office, at a meeting, at a fundraiser, or a dinner. Thanks to her daughter, Andrea Taylor, and the great committee and organizations for the effort in bringing us Della Hardman Day. See you Saturday.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send your Oak Bluffs news to: Skip@mvgazette.com.