The Louisa Gould Gallery will hold a special art benefit for Island Grown Initiative, with an opening reception on Sept. 17.

We've been enjoying the brilliant planet Saturn in the evening sky. The planet is both close and convenient to spot. Look in the southeastern sky about an hour or so after sunset and you'll see the planet pretty much by itself. There is no confusing Saturn with any other object in that area of the sky. Saturn is the brightest.

We've enjoyed looking at the planet through a telescope. The rings are a dramatic sight when compared to any other planet in the sky.

Cicilio Rosa Neto and his full grown ox called Chilmark are regular sights around the Island, attending fairs, walking through downtown Vineyard Haven and even participating in funerals.

The new court for people dealing with substance abuse opened in Edgartown District Court earlier this year with the goal of addressing the underlying addiction that often drives people repeatedly into the criminal justice system. 

West Tisbury will hold a special town meeting this fall to deal with rising costs and bylaw changes. 

This weekend, the Kara Taylor Gallery in Chilmark opens a one-of-a-kind exhibition of art by Molly Finkelstein, whose subtly three-dimensional, fabric-based pieces have never been shown in public.

The Ceremony of Remembrance service takes place Saturday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. at the Edgartown Lighthouse.

Steve Lohman’s exhibit at Turpentine Gallery opens on Sept. 15. It marks the artist’s 40th year of showing his work on the Island.

After a six-year hiatus, the Martha’s Vineyard Songwriting Festival is returning to the Island for a weekend of performances. The event takes place Sept. 20 to 21, with shows at The Strand and The Ritz in Oak Bluffs.