It seems the founders of the Camp Ground and the Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company have built a town around what many hope will become a state sanctioned Oak Bluffs Arts and Cultural District. At an introductory meeting at the Oak Bluffs Library on March 15, Dennis daRosa from the Oak Bluffs Association and Renee Balter, a member of the Friends of Oak Bluffs and Cottage City Historic District Commission, joined in with others on a presentation shared by Christine Flynn from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Ann Smith, the executive director of Featherstone Center for the Arts and chairman of Art Martha’s Vineyard, and Nancy Gardella, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.

The three visionaries were involved with helping found the Vineyard Haven Harbor and Aquinnah Circle Arts and Cultural districts. Their assistance helps make an Arts and Cultural District for Oak Bluffs all the more likely.

The state legislature introduced the concept for some economic development we can certainly use, particularly in the off season. Our town of Oak Bluffs is one of few that, with the district definition encompassing a half mile, can offer swimmable beaches, a harbor, nine parks, four places of worship, a bowling alley, carousel, adolescent and adult game rooms, two cocktail cafes, several bars, fine dining and specialty restaurants serving Thai, Mexican, Italian and assorted seafood, three liquor stores and an historic movie theatre. Also, two candy stores, a drug store, a convenience store, grocery, jeweler, toy store, office supply, bakery, a bunch of gift shops, boutiques, specialty clothing stores, art galleries, tennis and basketball courts, a playground and a post office. Along with fireworks we have Harborfest, Best Fest, Tivoli Day, a wind festival and, on occasion, the MV Sound Music Festival. In this one small area of one small town one can debark from New Bedford, Hyannis, Falmouth, Woods Hole or Nantucket to find taxi cabs, public and tour busses, bicycles, rental cars or unfortunately, mopeds. This is all within walking distance. You won’t find any elevators, escalators, traffic lights or smog and there’s a 75 per cent chance the sun will be shining between April and October. You’ll find yourself surrounded by over 700 historically significant private homes in a town that started in 1835 as a religious encampment.

That’s the definition of an arts and cultural district and we should all strive to obtain the honorific. Thanks to all involved for the effort.

The first of this weekends egg hunts takes place Saturday, March 26 at the library at 10 a.m. Bring a basket for the hunt for kids of all ages, and be prompt. Simultaneously at 10 a.m. there is another Easter egg hunt at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Campus celebrating Island veterans and their families at 111 Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs. The event includes arts and crafts, music and snacks and is free and open to the public.

Enjoy a magic show featuring Magic Marvin at the Library from 11 a.m. to noon for all ages, hosted by the Yard. Later at 2 p.m. the Oak Bluffs Library hosts bon vivant Herb Foster who will be giving a talk entitled: “Octogenarians Are Still Horny: Aging and Changing Sexual Mores.” I hope he’s right.

March 27 is Easter Sunday and the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard begins the day with a sunrise worship at the Inkwell at 6 a.m. Breakfast follows at 6:30 a.m. at the Trinity Parish House, and then the community Easter egg hunt begins on the Tabernacle grounds at 9:30 a.m. The Easter service begins at Trinity at 10 a.m.

The First Congregational Church in West Tisbury hosts services on Easter Sunday at 9 a.m. at the church and a community Easter Service at 11 a.m. at the Agricultural Hall. Childcare and church school for young people aged 2-12 will be provided. Following the service there will be an Easter egg hunt.

The questionably named Summercamp Hotel has taken to social media to tantalize folks with the remarkably attractive rooms they have renovated in what was the historical (but shabby) Wesley House, and is slated for opening on May 19. In wishing the owner, Lark Hotels, well with their new enterprise it is also difficult to swallow the shallow attempt on its website to tie the new name into the history of the Methodists campground. Perhaps someone will gift them the books, City in the Woods or Circle of Faith for reference.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.