Architect Ascent

Hutker Achitects recently announced the promotion of two of its employees: Thomas McNeill has been named senior designer; Nate Morgan has been named designer II.

Mr. McNeil is a volunteer with Hutker Architects’ Habitat for Humanity team that is designing a new regional prototype home. Mr. Morgan recently assisted in the project management of two significant Martha’s Vineyard homes currently under construction. His focus is in design development, consultant coordination and construction detailing.

Seastreak has announced it will once again offer catamaran ferry service between New Jersey, New York city and New Bedford to the Island. Ferry service from New Jersey and New York city to Oak Bluffs will be offered from May 24 to Sept. 3, as well as on Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 5 to 8. Ferries depart from Highlands, N.J. and the East 25th street pier in New York.

One-way tickets are only $155, $175 during holiday weekends. Round-trip tickets are $230, $275 during holiday weekends.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness will offer a series of 12 weekly classes, starting April 11, for families of people diagnosed with serious mental illnesses.

Classes will examine the symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar disease, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders, as well as offer coping skills, basic information about medications, listening and communication techniques, problem solving, recovery and rehabilitation and self-care.

Dean’s Award

Zachary Bressler Rabin of Edgartown has been named a recipient of the dean’s award for academic excellence during the 2011 fall term at Colgate University. Zachary is the son of Steven D. Rabin and Karen Bressler. He is a member of the class of 2013, concentrating in computer science.

For a couple of precious seconds, JibJab Jr. held up. And then, as Charlotte Potter and Josie Iadicicco looked on helplessly, the miniature bridge, weighing just half a pound and built of nothing but dry pasta and glue, cracked and collapsed under the weight of the twenty-five pound disc resting on its roadbed.

For a couple of precious seconds, JibJab Jr. held up.

And then, as Charlotte Potter and Josie Iadicicco looked on helplessly, the miniature bridge, weighing just half a pound and built of nothing but dry pasta and glue, cracked and collapsed under the weight of the twenty-five pound disc resting on its roadbed.

“I’m actually surprised,” math teacher Ken deBettencourt told the two regional high school freshmen, “I thought it’d hold at least fifty [pounds].”

The Work of Stan Murphy

Stan Murphy’s art on the Vineyard really needs no introduction. His images have become iconic; think Moshup emerging from the waters off of the Aquinnah Cliffs, and his portraits of Islanders, including himself.

Woodcock Dance

Of all the harbingers of spring the mating dance of the woodcock is, shall we say, the most explosive. The woodcock dudes, doing their full-on female strut, put a summer night at the Lampost to shame.

For starters, check out some of their aliases: bog suckers, mud bats or timberdoodles.

But names are nothing compared to the aerial display which ends with daredevil plummet to earth, all in the name of love.

Check out the show tonight, March 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.

Charter School Play

Next weekend, March 30 and 31, the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School will present its annual theater production. This year they take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a play with essentially four plots in one: a royal wedding, prank-playing fairies, a love quadrangle and workmen trying to put on a play. Something for everyone indeed.

Garden Gate Benefit

The Garden Gate Child Development Center is throwing its annual Night of Adventure benefit party and auction on March 24 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Wharf in Edgartown.

One of the auction items is a chance to sing with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish at the Ritz in Oak Bluffs.

Other more sedentary items, include a trip to Florida with Red Sox spring training tickets, breakfast at Linda Jean’s, a Mohegan Sun overnight trip with Wolf Den reserved seating. Full moon bidders beware.

Consistency, dedicated workers, quality product and a good value are required to make a restaurant work. But for restaurant owner J.B. Blau it all comes back to putting the customer on the pedestal, and on the Vineyard, that means putting the year-round population first.