Ocean Park’s Joseph Sequeira Vera is the fastest 87 year old in Oak Bluffs. He’s one of three 80-something year olds who participate in the local 3K and 5K runs, one by the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP. He’s already selling wolf tickets about the Louis Sullivan run he expects to win on August 22.

Joe sent me a note about the column of May 29 when I suggested his house at 47 Ocean Park may have been designed by Samuel Freeman Pratt. In fact, the house he bought from Edith Carr in June 1962 was designed by architect John Stevens of Boston. Joe restored the house in 2004 and contrary to its appearance, its Victorian looking tower is actually of French design.

Joe Vera, a retired attorney, appreciates history. He told me quite a bit about the house, the most important fact of which is that it was built in 1868 by Erasmus P. Carpenter, the man who brought the Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company to fruition. He was also responsible for the first Illumination Night, which we celebrate again on Wednesday with the lighting of a candle by a presently unknown cottager just after dark.

Mr. Vera kindly shared some wonderful stories I plan to pass along about Oak Bluffs and his life. We argued about Pennacook—where his parents’ first house was in 1929—being spelled two ways. I got a smile when I told him that the strip of grass outside his house was once called Landers Park. Watch this spot for the stories he told me that I didn’t know, especially the one about the fire.

Friday night, as part of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Spike Lee’s new movie Chiraq debuts at the performing arts center at 7 p.m. Actors Nick Cannon, Teyonah Parris and Father Michael L. Pfleger will be there with Mr. Lee to discuss the film.

Father Augustine Bangalie, a priest from Sierra Leone, speaks Friday evening at 8 p.m. at the Tabernacle. He will share his perspective on the Ebola crisis in Africa and all are welcome.

Glenn Tunstull’s new art show opens at Cousen Rose Gallery with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday evening.

The Cottagers Inc. is hosting its Black & Bling Party at the P.A. Club Saturday from 7 to 11:45 p.m.

Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta is preaching at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury on Sunday. All are welcome. Service begins at 10 a.m.

Next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. the Martha’s Vineyard Museum hosts Vineyard Voices Films at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center. The stories are about Olive Tomlinson, Dean K. Denniston Sr., Dorothy Brickman, Craig Kingsbury, Eric Cottle, and a preview of The Vineyard Five — The Civil Rights Movement and Martha’s Vineyard. Tickets are available at mvmuseum.org.

On Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. the Oak Bluffs Library features lantern painting just in time for that evening’s Illumination Night in the Camp Ground. Call ahead to pre-register.

Next Wednesday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Charles Ogletree’s Houston Institute presents a forum at the performing arts center on Black and Blue: Policing the Color Line. Details are available at charleshamiltonhouston.org.

The Reverend Otis Moss 3rd and his Dad set a new record of 760 at Union Chapel last week.

Charles Henry (Cee Jay) Jones Jr. is back on Island for a visit. Cee Jay, born April 22, 1917, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2012 acknowledging the segregation of his fellow African American marines at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune in 1943. He looks great and is delighted to be back.

On Saturday, August 8 the winning horse at Monmouth Park’s $60,000 Frenchman’s Stakes was named Oak Bluffs.

As Cee Jay says, Ta-ta and apple pie!

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.