Calling All Poets

The Island Voices poetry performance series continues at Che’s Lounge on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. All Island poets are invited. The event is slated to continue weekly through the summer, with a roster including spoken word performers, rappers and freestylers, slam poets, singer-songwriters, and free verse and traditional form poets.

The Vineyard boys’ tennis team this week earned a number three seed and a bye in the first round of the MIAA tournament, and will play at home on Monday; meanwhile the boys’ lacrosse team lost to Sandwich in the first round of the state tournament on Tuesday.

The boys’ tennis team finished the season with a 14-4 record, and unofficially won the Eastern Athletic Conference with a league record of 7-1 — unofficial because the Vineyard does not become a full member of the conference until next year.

It all began as a quest for a swimming pool.

Cindy Doyle spent five mornings a week swimming at her local YMCA in Providence. The only downside of her decision to make the Vineyard her year-round home in 2001 was the absence of a pool for her daily workout. “I found out about this group that was trying to build a pool here. And I thought, well that’s something I could get behind,” explained Mrs. Doyle.

Tomorrow, flyfishermen from around the Island and beyond will gather for the 18th annual Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club flyrod catch and release tournament. Registration is at the regional high school cafeteria from noon to 3 p.m. Entry fee is $35. Fishing begins at 7 p.m. and continues until 2 a.m. Sunday.

In years past as many as 200 fishermen have participated in the one-night contest and caught and released hundreds of striped bass.

The Vineyard Fast Ferry, shuttling passengers from Quonset Point, R.I., to the Island for its seventh summer season, has lowered rates to their lowest level since 2006 thanks to lower fuel costs.

Vineyard Fast Ferry president Charles A. Donadio Jr. said reservations are up over last summer on the service which passengers use to connect to the Island from the airport in Providence and the Amtrak train.

Five Coast Guardsmen were rescued from a submerged 25-foot response boat on Wednesday during a training exercise 10 miles south of Noman’s Land. The Coast Guard said one of the men suffered an ankle injury while another was treated for hypothermia. They were transported quickly to Menemsha where they were met by paramedics, according to Coast Guard spokesman James Rhodes.

The accident occurred at 11:31 a.m. Seas were three to four feet high. A number of boats were involved in the training exercise.

James A. Tuck has traveled through the centuries on the Vineyard, not to mention in New York and Newfoundland.

Mr. Tuck, 68, is one of Canada’s top archaeologists; two weeks ago, he and his colleague Robert J. McGhee were honored by their peers at the Canadian Archaeological Association with the Gagnant du Prix Smith-Wintemberg Award. It is a prestigious award given only occasionally by the association.

Joins Tennis Center

Damon Burke has joined the Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa as its new assistant director. A former Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School student, Mr. Burke has had a lifelong commitment to sports and fitness. He played soccer for Long Island University (Southampton and CW Post) and for the Kyoto Institute of Technology.

Council Turns 18

The Tisbury council on aging will celebrate its 18th anniversary on Sunday, June 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Tisbury senior center. Entertainment will be provided by Ray Frazio and there will be refreshments. The public is invited.

Foundation Grants

The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation is accepting inquiries in its 2009 Developmental Disabilities Grant category.

Organizations on Martha’s Vineyard serving children and adolescents with developmental disabilities may be eligible for funds. The due date for the letter of inquiry is July 22, 2009. For more information, see online thetowerfoundation.org.