What Hangs in Vegas

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School junior Shelby Ferry and freshman Sarah Ortlip-Sommers recently became the first high school students to win honorable mentions from the Photo Imaging Education Association. Shelby’s photograph, titled Misconception, was one of 14 chosen from a field of more than 1,400.

Sarah and Shelby’s work will be exhibited at a photography convention in Las Vegas next fall, and then will tour internationally in schools and museums.

What inspires the eye behind the camera? A friend climbing in and out of tree limbs, a close-up portrait of a fellow classmate, or perhaps it is the reflection of teenaged friends playing dress-up in an attic. For Chris Baer’s photography students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, it doesn’t matter if they take a picture digitally or with film, it’s about having a good eye and good ideas.

Pictures by Peter Simon

everyone in the pool: > On Sunday, Feb. 6 the Makos swim team featuring young Vineyard swimmers took on the Marshfield Swim Club at the YMCA. This inaugural race came not long after the high school team baptized the pool with its first meet.

In both cases the Y pool area was packed with swimmers, parents and friends. Still more peered from the windows above the pool, looking out from the fitness room or the communal area at the entrance.

A new affordable home buyer program is about to get under way in Edgartown, which if successful may put another dozen Islanders — who have been doing the seasonal shuffle or finding ownership just out of reach — in homes of their own. Administered by the town affordable housing committee and the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, the so-called buy-down program will provide mortgage subsidies of up to $200,000 for income-qualified applicants, who in turn will be able to buy existing homes on the open market.

Robyn Hanover, 26, daughter of Linda Hanover of West Tisbury and Marc Hanover of Oak Bluffs, completed her 2010 season competing in the equestrian sport of eventing with a first place in the adult amateur preliminary division in Area 1 (New York and New England) and a fourth place standing nationally.

For more information about Robyn and her sport, visit her Web site, hanovereventing.org.

Kellie Bettencourt to Wed

Michael and Maria Bettencourt of Edgartown announce the engagement of their daughter, Kellie Marie Bettencourt, to Jesse James Martin, both of Oak Bluffs. Jesse is the son of Judy Rose and Alan Hasty of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Jim and Geri Anne Martin of Burlingame, Calif.

A fall wedding is planned

The Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa hosted its winter classic tennis tournament on Jan. 22 and 23. Tournament proceeds were donated to Doctors Without Borders for Haiti.

The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) have announced that Gary Simmons will be the club’s assistant coach for the 2011 season.

Mr. Simmons has been the varsity baseball coach at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School for the previous five seasons. He also spent five years as the high school’s junior varsity head coach.

The Vineyard boys’ basketball team wrapped up the Eastern Athletic Conference (EAC) title in Attleboro on Thursday with a 55-53 squeaker over Bishop Feehan. Randall Jette led all Vineyard scorers with 22 points, with Del Araujo and T.J. VanGervan pitching in 13 and 11 respectively.

The win comes on the heels of another conference win last Friday night over Bishop Stang, 75-63. The Vineyard is 12-2 for the year and a league best 7-0 against EAC opponents.

BUSING BREWSTER: By Richard Michelson, illustrated by R.G. Roth, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, N.Y. 2010. $16.99, hardcover.

By ROB HAMMETT