Fortunately Robert Morris Copeland and his partner of the time, H.W.Cleveland, lost the competition to design New York’s Central Park and wound up designing what became Oak Bluffs’ Cottage City Historic District instead. The notable cemetery designer and landscaper was believed to have used his plan for Gloucester’s Oak Grove Cemetery as a model according to a Patch article by Julie Wesolowski in 2011.

Highlighting his designs from 1866-1867 were our fabulous nine original parks: Hartford, Hiawatha, Nashawena, Naushon, Niantic, Ocean, Pennacook, Pettuluma and Waban. The parks department has planned for the restoration of one of these mini masterpieces: Pennacook (listed as Park Park on an older map). The restoration is one of several worthy items up for a vote on this year’s town warrant under Article 32.

The Community Preservation Committee recommendation (#10) is affirmed 7-0 by the finance and advisory board and information on the plan with renderings is available on the town website: oakbluffsma.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1212.

2017 is an important year for town meeting with decisions to be made on a new town hall, a straw vote on mopeds and who knows what on the Island Theatre.

Other towns voting on mopeds will probably vote against them and Edgartown will probably vote to remediate the eyesore building on its Main street owned by the same family that owns the Island Theatre. It somehow seems wrong we would pay to keep an ugly building supported. In a rapidly ageing town (and Island) it’s ironic that anyone would elect to keep a town hall that is older than close to half of our population’s median age (it was built in 1965). For folks thinking about buying a car made in 1965 (who aren’t collectors) perhaps you should look at the facts on the town website: oakbluffsma.gov/301/Town-Hall-Building-Committee.

The Island Wide Youth Collaborative invites parents and caregivers to a support group for families of transgender young people. The monthly session provides an opportunity for questions, sharing information, and building a supportive community. It takes place Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Family Center.

On Saturday, Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven is hosting a ham and turkey bingo party. Admission is free but bingo cards are two for $1. Each lucky winner will win a frozen ham or turkey. Games begin at 2 p.m. and continue for an afternoon of family fun, with light refreshments. For more info call the office at 508-693-0332.

The Oak Bluffs Library has a focus on children with several recurring events. A lap-sit story time for pre-walking babies is every Thursday at 11 a.m. Toddler Time for busy walkers is designed for them to sing, listen to stories, color and play. It is held on Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Animal story time is Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages three and up. The events all last until the end of June and are in the Children’s Room. Move and Groove Storytime is held at 10:30 a.m. on April 1, May 6 and June 3. This is for children of all ages, including you.

The renewed Ritz SoulKitchen & BBQ is all of that and more, and maybe our last music venue until someone builds another cool spot where headphones aren’t needed. The Red Cat on Kennebec opens on Saturday April 1 and Back Door Donuts opens April 13 when we’ll be able to celebrate the good decisions made at the town meeting on April 11 and the town elections on April 13.

Happy 75th birthday last week to Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who comes to Oak Bluffs on her final tour, this August 19 at the Tabernacle. Rock Steady at MVconcertseries.com.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.