The original people of the Nunnepog tribe had called Oak Bluffs Ogkeshkuppe for thousands of years before Joseph Daggett was granted the land for his farm in 1642 when we were referred to as Farm Neck. By 1646 Thomas Mayhew was calling our part of Martha’s Vineyard the “Easternmost Chop of Homses Hole.”

After a while Eastville was the name of Edgartown’s northernmost neighborhood and due to our continuing habits involving adult beverages, nicknamed the Barbary Coast in the 1700s. Starting in 1835, thanks to the camp ground settlement of the Methodists, we were described as Wesleyan Grove.

Erasmus Carpenter’s gang of the Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company stepped up in the late 1860s to build our new community by the sea—one successful enough for the appellation of Oak Bluffs as a town. Edgartown, unwilling to play well with others, reaffirmed our need for independence, and on Feb. 17, 1880 Gov. Thomas Talbot set us free by secession and we became Cottage City. Thanks to the growth of our year-round population and tourist-based economy we officially changed our name to Oak Bluffs on Jan. 25, 1907.

So often mispronounced, it is no wonder then that the board of selectmen, the financial committee, the planning board and the streetscapes project have gotten together to recommend the public vote in favor of article four of the warrant at annual town meeting at the Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. on April 12, “To see if the Town will vote to change the name of Oak Bluffs to Oaks Bluff” making it easier for visitors to say.

A unanimous vote of the board of selectmen in executive session suggested the name change is in the best interests of supporting our economy. The financial committee, supporting the change in view of the health of town coffers, voted 7-1 in favor of the move. Fire and safety officials indicated cost would be involved for the changes on the fire engines and ambulances and have inquired if Engine 1 could retain the name Oak Bluffs for the sake of posterity.

The planning board suggested this is an easy change to make because the state would be obligated to fund the changes on maps and to most signs. The streetscapes project, already working on wayfinding alternatives, believes the timing is excellent and in conjunction with the state is preparing to have the signs on the bridges and the Vineyard Haven/Edgartown Road changed in the next few weeks. With the adoption of the name change to Oaks Bluff, that will make 10 name changes over 375 years.

Remember to vote at town meeting April 12 at the Performing Arts Center at the regional high school.

On Friday April 1 the Oaks Bluff Library again hosts mini golf for adults from 6 to 9 p.m. They’re serving beer from Offshore Ale, wine from Our Market, and food from Deon’s at the VFW. On Saturday, kids can learn to solder at a class at 1 p.m. using a light up LED pin they can take home with them.

Your chance to see and hear over 100 folks sing will be Saturday, April 2 for the Island Community Chorus’s 20th anniversary free concert at 7:30 p.m. at the PAC. The Brahms Requiem is featured with a full orchestra and there is a second show Sunday at 3 p.m.

Join Allyson at the Oaks Bluff Library for Wednesday’s Caffeine and Computers class at 10:30 a.m. Learn about Facebook, Microsoft Office, smart phones, ebooks and other topics for free.

The Martha’s Vineyard Museum visits the library on Thursday, April 7, from 4 to 5 p.m. with education director Ann DuCharme who will be discussing 10 objects from the book Island Stories: Highlights from the museum. There’s no charge for the presentation.

The Oaks Bluff planning board has developed a questionnaire seeking opinions from the public about town hall and its future. Robert (Bo) Fehl and Mac MacGregor Anderson have taken the lead on the project that debuts Monday, April 4. Look for the survey on the planning board and OB Downtown Facebook pages and soon, the town website. A hard copy will be available at town hall and the council on aging — fill one out and let your opinions be known.

Oaks Bluff? C’mon man! April fool! Thanks to Michael Zamarro for the idea.

Keep your foot on a rock.