The shores of the beach at Herring Creek, which flows into Menemsha Pond, are clear. A string of rocks tapers out into the cove, a lone rowboat floats at high tide. In the morning the water stands still, rippling from the occasional gust of wind, resounding the chirps and chatters of coastal birds. Gone from the shoreline are the black, netted bags that served as oyster pods in the attempt to revive the shellfish population in the pond over the last decade.

Lambert’s Cove Beach, Seth’s Pond, Long Cove Pond and Tisbury Great Pond were all closed to swimming on Thursday after results from routine water testing revealed a spike in the bacteria enterococcus.

West Tisbury health agent John Powers said he expects the tests to be an anomaly and anticipated the beaches would be open again by today. He said the contamination at Lambert’s Cove may be in part due to a breach at James Pond.

The Edgartown Yacht Club’s annual Round the Island race begins at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning, and by Wednesday afternoon already there were 46 sailboats registered to start in the 67-mile contest. It is one of the three big racing events for the Edgartown club, with sailors from along the East Coast here for a full day of sailing.

Edgartown selectmen approved converting two loading zones on South Water street to short-term parking this week.

The spaces in front of the Harborside Inn will become 15-minute parking areas in an effort to ease traffic flow. Town highway superintendent Stuart Fuller said at the weekly meeting on Tuesday the new spaces will help accommodate short-term parking for the hotel and banks in the area.

Town administrator Pamela Dolby recommended giving out parking warnings before issuing tickets for the first few weeks.

Chilmark selectmen took up a series of summer housekeeping items this week, approving the Chilmark Road Race, wrapping up harbor repair projects and reviewing advertising bylaws.

The selectmen approved the annual road race at their weekly meeting on Tuesday with one requirement: There must be more portable bathrooms throughout the course.

Union Chapel

On Sunday, July 10, 2011, the Rev. Kevin Pleas will be the guest preacher at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs. Reverend Pleas received his M. Div. from Andover Newton Theological School in 1987 and has been a local church pastor ever since. He has served churches in Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, and Maine as both pastor and senior pastor. For the last 10 years he has been providing spiritual leadership for the First Congregational Church of Camden, Me.

The house at 49 Bailey Park Road in West Tisbury has new owners.

At a groundbreaking ceremony last Saturday, Doug Ruskin, president of Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard, introduced Joe Fragosa Jr., his wife, Jennifer, and their five-year-old daughter, Briana.

Mr. Fragosa, 51, said he and his wife have been looking for a permanent home for seven years. He is an arborist who grew up on the Island. She is a water safety instructor.

Cape Cod Scholarships

Several students from Martha’s Vineyard were awarded scholarships by the Cape Cod Community College Educational Foundation at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 26, in the Tilden Arts Center Auditorium.

Rebecca Tremblay received the Weezie Foundation Scholarship presented by the Weezie Foundation.

Paula Corts received the Thomas H. and Barbara Lee Endowed Scholarship presented by Thomas and Barbara Lee.

Baptist Pastor Installed

The First Baptist Church of Vineyard Haven and the Community Baptist Church of Gay Head in Aquinnah will celebrate their new ministry at the Installation Service for their covenant pastor, the Rev. Ellen P. Tatreau, on Sunday, July 17, at 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church on the corner of Spring and William streets in Vineyard Haven.

Renaissance House in Oak Bluffs is opening a branch in Harlem, offering the same retreat it offers here.

Renaissance House was founded in the memory of lifetime summer resident Helene Johnson, and Dorothy West, a legendary Vineyarder. Both writers were members of the Harlem Renaissance, an artistic movement in the 1920s and 30s. The writers were cousins who lived in Oak Bluffs; both lived in Harlem during the period of the Renaissance.