Oak Bluffs

Ginger Bread House LLC purchased 76 Penacook avenue in Oak Bluffs from Frank Barvenik and Louis Burritt, co-executors of the Estate of Alma A. Barvenik, for $140,000 on May 29.

Kevin E. Peters purchased 72 Norris avenue in Oak Bluffs from Deutsche Bank National Trust Company for $357,750 on May 30.

West Tisbury

Susanna Herlitz-Ferguson purchased 15 Seths Lane in West Tisbury from Klaus and Vicki Broscheit, trustees of the KVB Realty Trust, for $1,635,000 on May 30.

Graduate

Ryan Brennan of Vineyard Haven was graduated from Providence College on Sunday, May 20, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Master’s Degree

On Thursday, May 24, Duncan Mayher Pickard earned a master’s in public policy degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

He is the son of Paul D. Pickard of Oak Bluffs and Gretchen Mayher of Oak Bluffs.

Dean’s List

Stephen Hammond of West Tisbury was named to the dean’s list at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology for the spring 2012 semester.

You could blame the devil for spawning this horned plant.

Or you could hold Thomas Jefferson responsible for its appearance on America’s eastern beaches. In 1807, he planted its seeds at Monticello “in an oval bed southeast of the house.” No matter whom you fault, the mellow yellow blooms of the horned poppy are on our beaches to stay.

An entertaining e-mail from Bob St. Germain reminded me that it is that time of year again. I must give my annual lecture on the importance of keeping a distance from bird nests and also slowing down on the roads. Birds passing across the Vineyard roads are undoubtedly carrying food for young at this time of year. If you hit one, then the nestlings or fledglings will have difficulty surviving.

I've had a hen jealously guarding her eggs. When I try to take them she pecks my hand and becomes downright aggressive. For several weeks I have left her alone. Last Sunday morning one tiny baby hatched. It was tucked in under her wing when I opened the coop. This has happened in the past when I have a flock of mixed breeds which are known to go.

The battle lines have been drawn.

For some years now the town of Oak Bluffs has hosted an annual Monster Shark Tournament during a weekend in July. The event is well attended by both fishermen and spectators. But it is also protested regularly.

There were children prancing around in angel costumes, families noshing on barbeque food and familiar tunes blasting from speakers. It was like one big Islandwide block party at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School track last Friday as Islanders gathered to celebrate life.

But all fell silent when Tammy King, chief organizer of the event, took the microphone to inaugurate Martha’s Vineyard Relay for Life’s ninth annual all-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

The Beach Plum Inn had an unusual guest this week.

Quiet, reserved, and ready to explore the Island, this four-legged visitor cozied up in the lobby of the inn for the past week, enjoying the scene and posing for pictures too.

It’s not a dog, nor even a cat. Nope, it’s a chair.

The traveling Red Chair has made its way from Woods Hole to Provincetown and back, taking a special trip to the Island as its last stop.