Edgartown has named its first poet laureate. The title was bestowed upon Steve Ewing at the board of selectmen’s meeting Monday.

According to the selectmen, Mr. Ewing’s primarily responsibility as poet laureate is to read a poem at the annual town meeting. Mr. Ewing accepted the job, but took exception to the title. “I don’t know what to say,” said Mr. Ewing. “I’m really honored. Poet laureate is kind of a fancy term ... I’m just a local kid who likes to write.”

Each year the nonprofit Red Stocking Fund collects gifts of food, clothing and toys for underprivileged Island children. This year, they are expected to serve more than 400 children. But time is running out, and the volunteers say more items are needed.

Organizers say they are looking for donations of hats, gloves and mittens for older kids ages 12-15 and toys for kids under 10, including action figures, Legos, balls, arts and crafts supplies.

Vineyard teens now have a space to call their own with the opening of the Alexandra Gagnon Teen Center at the YMCA Saturday afternoon. Community members young and old gathered for a grand opening of the space that has been years in the making.

A daily homework club, a DJ booth, sound mixing classes, recording booths, a performance stage with a full lighting board, a kitchen and weekly dinners and cooking classes with Island chefs are only a few of the programs and amenities the center will now offer.

Morning Glory Farm has offered to donate approximately 8,000 pounds of potatoes and 2 and a half bushels of Hubbard squash and pumpkins to Island Grown Gleaning. Volunteers are needed to collect and distribute the food to schools, elders and those in need.

The gleaning will take place over several days. Monday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. volunteers will pick up squash and pumpkins. On Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. volunteers will collect potatoes (no digging is required).

The Bunch of Grapes Bookstore has teamed up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Martha’s Vineyard to help out this holiday season. Little Brothers and Sisters in the mentoring program are invited to visit Bunch of Grapes and create a wish list of up to six books. Community members may then view the wish lists and choose a book to give to a little. Bunch of Grapes is offering a 20 per cent discount on these gifts.

This opportunity is available until Dec. 31, 2011.

Main street between Summer street and Water street will be closed to traffic for a portion of Saturday to accommodate the annual Christmas in Edgartown parade.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. Main street will remain closed until 1 p.m.

Forty-one floats are scheduled to participate in the Main street parade.

As an Island builder I was dismayed at the various comments made concerning new construction of the megamansions here on the Vineyard. Several of the comments claimed review of large homes is unprecedented and should not be allowed. As one example, our sister island, Nantucket, has an independent review board that reviews every new home or renovation on that island.

For more than 10 years, the Vineyard Conservation Society has called for a community conversation about large-scale, high-impact residential development on Martha’s Vineyard. We welcome the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) taking steps in that direction, with their consideration of amending the DRI checklist to address such development. We also support John Abram’s comments about broadening the base of stakeholders to help craft workable guidelines.

The following letter was sent to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission via e-mail:

Tomorrow morning, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum will host a gathering of book authors at the Pease House on School street in Edgartown. Among the distinguished lineup will be Tom Hale, who at 11 a.m. will sign copies of a newly printed edition of a 19th century book, Mr. Hardy Lee, His Yacht. The book, Drawn by Chinks and originally published in 1857, is widely considered the first on yachting in America.