Artisan Festival Talk

Ever wonder how the Artisans Festival began, what they were like in the early days, and even, perhaps, where they are headed? Well, on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m., Andrea Rogers, the maestro behind what has become a Vineyard institution (and an impressive broom maker too) is giving a talk at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

The library knows how to treat its visitors too; refreshments will be served following the talk.

For more details, call 508-696-4211.

Town Meating

The Farm Institute and Morning Glory Farm are teaming up to screen the film American Meat tonight, Friday, Feb. 3, starting at 6 p.m. at the Morning Glory Farm stand.

The film is a documentary about the current state of meat production in the U.S. It is not billed as a mere harangue against the meat industry but rather looks at the complex issue through the eyes of actual workers at these plants, feedlots and confinement houses. The film also introduces the current revolution developing in animal husbandry.

Foods of Italy

February blues have you down? Skies gray, food choices minimal, and it’s still weeks away from school break and a potential vacation? How about a gastronomical trip to Italy via the Edgartown Library Foundation?

On Friday, Feb. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. the library is hosting a tour of Italy with a wine and cheese bonanza. The food tour to benefit the library takes place at Lattanzi’s Restaurant in Old Post Office Square in Edgartown.

The Rap on Kid Critic Madia Bellebuono

Age: 9.

School Name: Fourth grade at Chilmark Elementary School.

Sibling: Gabriel Bellebuono, age 11.

Pet: Finn (dog).

Something new you are learning: How to knit and crochet.

New place you would like to explore: The State Forest.

New food you recently tried: Sharky’s Taco Bowl.

Favorite thing about living on Martha’s Vineyard: It is very pretty and very peaceful.

What do you want to do/be when you grow-up: A cook and a designer.

The folks at Cinema Circus are hosting another winter screening tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. The event includes food, activities and, of course, a series of short films. Earlier this week a screening was arranged with Madia Bellebuono, a young Island cineaste, to get the skinny on what’s good, great and not so much.

Splat the Cat

As a licensed mental health professional specializing in children, Jeanine Fitzgerald has seen her fair share of acting out in her 34 years of child behavior studies, everything from the “duck lips” stubborn pout to the “duck and cover” because that’s what’s required to avoid injury.

But one thing has remained true throughout her tenure, eight years of which she’s spent with Island families — her goal is to empower people.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has awarded Island Grown Schools $12,000 in grant money. The grant is part of a larger $200,000 awards program doled out to seven “buy local” organizations across the commonwealth, and will be used to support Island Grown Schools’ efforts to bring more fresh, healthy and locally produced foods to school cafeterias.

A Tisbury man who has worked as an assistant boys’ basketball coach at the Edgartown School was arraigned Thursday on three counts of indecent assault and battery on a seven-year-old boy.

School officials said the alleged victim is not a student at the school, but Daniel P. Parker’s arrest by Tisbury police on Wednesday prompted the Vineyard schools superintendent to bar him from all Island schools.

The West Tisbury selectmen voted Wednesday to ban two Akitas from the Vineyard who had killed more than a dozen chickens and geese on a neighboring property.

After nearly an hour of contentious and sometimes emotional debate the selectmen decided not to euthanize the dogs, and will now finalize an agreement between the dog owners and the town for the dogs to leave the Island permanently. The vote was two to one.

Clifford the Big Red Dog continues his run through the Island. The large, lovable canine will pay a visit to the West Tisbury library today at 10:30 a.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, he’ll finish his tour of the local libraries with appearances at the Oak Bluffs library at 10:30 a.m. and the Edgartown library at 3:30 p.m.

Norman Bridwell, the creator of Clifford, is an Island resident.