In every community there are people who have different experiences, who are unique and yet similar. We live side by side with each other, but how much do we know about our neighbors? Most of the people I spoke to for this piece are well known to me, and yet I did not know their stories. We all have a story, sometimes known only to ourselves.

In the end, it came down to a shoe box full of microcassettes, 75 interviews, two years of research and a lifetime of listening to Let It Be, Déjà Vu, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Sweet Baby James.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission has approved a proposed expansion of the Ocean Club restaurant in downtown Oak Bluffs. Owners Mark and Mike Wallace plan to expand the restaurant to include a second floor function hall capable of holding 500 people.

The restaurant plan was referred to the commission as a development of regional impact (DRI) after the town was threatened with a lawsuit by the owners of the Surfside Motel, who complained that increased noise from the venue would disturb their patrons.

There were two small earthquakes near and under Nashawena Island on Sunday night, about halfway between Martha’s Vineyard and New Bedford. The first earthquake, a magnitude 2.1, barely perceptible quake, took place at 8:39 p.m. The second occurred seven minutes later and was recorded at 1.3 in magnitude.

Nashawena is one of the Islands in the Elizabeth chain of islands. It is just east of Cuttyhunk. There were reports of the first earthquake being felt in Fall River and places nearby.

Babysitting Class

The American Red Cross will hold a babysitting class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 at the YMCA on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.

The course is designed for sixth to ninth graders, ages 11 to 15. Participants will learn babysitting responsibilities, characteristics of children, supervising and playing with children, basic care such as feeding and changing, accident prevention, emergency action and first aid. The cost for the course is $60.

Family Planning Gala

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here, and with it comes the annual Friends of Family Planning Art Show benefit, an event that supports the Family Planning of Martha’s Vineyard clinic. All are invited to admire and purchase artwork — paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, and more — at next weekend’s show and Thursday’s opening gala party.

Both the sale and the gala will be held at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury.

Two Oak Bluffs families are in the early stages of planning a housing development that would see 61 houses built on 68 acres on two adjoining lots off Barnes Road, if they can win approval from the town and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. Oraibi Voumard and Davio Danielson, whose families own the two lots, appeared before a receptive town planning board on May 13 to propose in theory the project which would be the first development to test the town’s flexible zoning bylaw approved by voters in 2003.

Chilmark selectmen this week approved new shellfish regulations to include stricter penalties for violations and clearly-stated restrictions on family permits.

It was the first time in 20 years the regulations were revised, and the selectmen were happy with the changes.

“It looks good,” selectman Jonathan Mayhew said.

The Global Conservation Alliance, founded in 2008 by West Tisbury avian photographer Lanny McDowell, Norman Famous and Porter Turnbull to address the red knot’s declines, has won support from outdoor clothing and gear retailer Patagonia.

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School principal Stephen Nixon announces the honor roll for the second quarter of the 2010-2011 academic year.

Grade 12 high honors go to: Celeste Ewing, Jesse Fogg, Sarah Johnson, Jill McHugh, Amelia Pennington, Kira Shipway and Anastasia Thibodeau.

Grade 11 high honors go to: Riley Donegan, William Fligor, Maya Harcourt, Celia Mercier and William Stewart.