Oyster Talk

Two weekends ago, the notorious Blue Beard, my 13-foot long vintage Edgartown beachboat, got a safe mooring in the nick of time in Tisbury Great Pond, thanks to the kindness of a near-stranger.

And my fairly notorious 1996 Toyota Camry that had suffered a flat tire between Edgartown and Vineyard Haven was able to take to the road again, thanks to the efforts of a total stranger.

Such scenarios are the better part of a Martha’s Vineyard summer.

EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On behalf of the Tri-Town Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services responders who came from all over the Island to help at the recent fire in Menemsha, we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the wonderful Menemsha businesses and members of the community who without hesitation gave and offered everything they could to assist us and the firefighters.

A classic Bermuda high over the Atlantic was responsible for the hot, sunny and humid month of July that just ended. Temperatures were well into the 80s for much of the month, and rainfall was close to average.

When artist Nancy Blank was 16 years old, she gave watercolor lessons to Vineyard Haven resident Millie Briggs, who had asked to learn the technique behind the misty, ethereal nature of the medium.

For loyal customers, the heart and soul of Oak Bluffs has returned: Lola’s is back in business. On Friday night at 10 p.m., the parking lot was full, the music was playing and friends were dancing, rejoicing in the reopening of the restaurant. It was as if it never left.

“It’s like prohibition is over!” one customer declared. “Our Island is a happy place again,” said another.

Emma Goldman was a woman who championed women’s rights to contraception, workers’ rights, homosexual rights, and who spoke against militarism, capitalism and religion.

These days, much of what she stood for is mainstream, or at least within the ambit of mainstream debate. But back in 1919, her views and her philosophy, anarchism, were enough to have her repeatedly jailed and, ultimately, deported from the United States to where she was born in Lithuania, then part of the Russian empire.

All seats were filled in the tiny town hall room used by the Aquinnah selectmen Thursday evening for a meeting between the town and Wampanoag tribal council members about the closure of a path to Lobsterville Beach, but one party was noticeably absent: the tribe.

Selectman and board chairman Camille Rose opened the special meeting with a review of the issue at hand. The tribe has roped off a sandy path located near the entrance to Clay Pit Road and blocked it with a pile of brush. Town residents and officials say the path is a public access and should be reopened.

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School assistant principal Carlin Hart has been named new principal of the Oak Bluffs school, Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss confirmed yesterday.

Mr. Hart will replace principal Laury Binney, who announced his resignation in late June after 14 years at the helm of the school. Mr. Weiss said the appointment takes effect next week.

“This will be a transition week . . . but by next week, he’ll be completely in Oak Bluffs,” said Mr. Weiss.

Like many fourth graders, Ben Taylor was not a fan of school. But after he graduated from the Steiner School in New York and worked on a biodynamic farm in New Mexico, he began to appreciate and fully understand the Waldorf method of teaching.

To that end, on Wednesday this week Mr. Taylor will perform at the Island Theatre in Oak Bluffs to raise money to support the Plum Hill preschool. Money raised at the event will go to the school’s Together We Build capital campaign to help expand the school’s facilities.