Trophy houses, as a group, are bad for the Vineyard. They are huge blots on our rural Island landscape. Summer people are overwhelmingly responsible for creating them. Do summer people create them out of ignorance? Or lack of taste? Or excessive pride? Or out of sheer, don’t-give-a-damn arrogance? In my opinion, all of the above. Many summer people believe that since a man’s home is his castle, why not build a castle?

At an age when most people her age are enjoying the beach or hanging out with their friends, 23-year-old Robyn Hanover of West Tisbury can usually be found in a horse barn. And while she spends much of that time doing what she loves — riding her horse and training for equestrian competitions with a hopeful eye toward Olympic competition — there is plenty of time spent doing less glamorous chores.

Things like brushing and cleaning the horses. Moving and dispersing bales of hay. Shoveling manure.

Charter School

Monday, Sept. 10: Baked Ham, pasta and vegetable salad, applesauce and milk.

Tuesday, Sept. 11: Tomato vegetable soup, hot dog or tofu dog on a roll, fruit smoothie and milk.

Wednesday, Sept. 12: Salad wraps (chicken Caesar salad or hummus and veggie), banana bread, raisins and milk.

Thursday, Sept. 13: Pizza (plain cheese, pepperoni or roasted veggie), tossed salad, fresh fruit and milk.

Friday, Sept. 14: Beef or bean burrito, lettuce and tomato, salsa, peaches and milk.

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

August 31 86 63 .00

Sept. 1 82 64 .05

Sept. 2 77 54 .00

Sept. 3 78 56 .00

Sept. 4 80 63 .00

Sept. 5 80 54 .00

Sept. 6 77 57 .00

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 71º F.

FLAGRANT CODE VIOLATIONS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

A secretary at the Oak Bluffs School has been charged with embezzling more than $15,000 from a school account by forging the principal’s name on several checks and then keeping the money.

Susan T. Peters, 59, of Oak Bluffs, was summonsed last week on charges of larceny by a single scheme over $250, forgery of checks, uttering false checks and larceny over $250.

Senior Art Show

An art show featuring the work of the Island’s senior community will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tisbury Senior Center, located at 34 Pine Tree Road in Vineyard Haven. Entry categories are painting, photography, folk art, knitting, quilting, ceramics and wood. There is no entry charge. Entrants must register by Sept. 14 by calling Sandy at 508-696-4205, Monday to Friday.

There’s an old saying, if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

The old cliche could be applied to the case of Renato Gomes Da Rocha, a 48-year-old Brazilian national who disappeared from the Island without a trace almost 18 months ago. On an Island where instances of missing persons are rare, the case of Mr. Da Rocha has largely remained under the radar of public attention, despite evidence that Mr. Da Rocha may have been the victim of foul play.

Pequot Exhibition

The Pequot Hotel is getting ready for its annual art exhibition. For the past seven years the Pequot has hosted an art show displaying many of the Island’s new and seasoned artists as well as others from Rhode Island and New York.

This year’s two-day exhibition will open Saturday, Oct. 13 with an artists’ reception from 6 to 8 p.m. It closes on Sunday. Anyone interested in being a part of this year’s exhibition should contact the hotel at 508-693-5087.

Chilmark Concert

Don’t miss the last summer concert and community hymn sing: join Lia Kahler, some of her students and fellow Methodist musicians on tonight, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Chilmark Community Church.

The concert and sing will be followed by refreshments in the community room. Proceeds from the freewill offering will be used to help replace the music and instruments destroyed in Hurricane Katrina and to help replenish the Island Food Pantry for next winter. For details, call 508-645-3325.