Course Helps Families

Deal With Mental Illness

A free family-to-family educational course in Oak Bluffs for family members of individuals with a serious mental illness will begin on Thursday, Feb. 17.

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School students Emma Hallbilsback and Delmont Araujo were sworn in on Friday by Gov. Deval Patrick to serve on the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council. They will hold their positions for a two-year term.

The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living will hold its second in a series of winter cultural luncheons on Saturday, Jan. 29, from noon to 2 p.m. at The Grill on Main in Edgartown. The cultural influence of African Americans on Martha’s Vineyard will be highlighted in a two-part program presented by author Tom Dresser, who will speak about his book African Americans on Martha’s Vineyard, and Elaine Weintraub, cofounder of the African American Heritage Trail on Martha’s Vineyard.

The Edey Foundation, founded by the late Maitland Edey of Seven Gates Farm, announces funds available for grants to Island nonprofit organizations.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide money for conservation and environmental programs on Martha’s Vineyard. Submissions that relate to ongoing conservation, energy, education and scientific studies are welcome. The foundation does not fund construction or building projects.

Please Adopt Us

Welcome Jacob

Sarah and David Henry of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Jacob Matthew Henry, born on Jan. 15, 2011, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Jacob weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces at birth. He was welcomed by big sister Abigail Henry, too.

To the Mansion

Vineyarders are invited to book a room at the Mansion House for $26 per person during the month of January to celebrate Sherm and Susie Goldstein’s 26 years as innkeepers.

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, the gibbous moon appears near the distant ringed-planet Saturn. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Virgo and rise after midnight. For those who haven’t seen Saturn, the moon acts as a perfect guide. Saturn is 892 million miles away, while the moon is much closer at 232,000 miles.

By HARRIET POTTER

Buried Treasure

From a 1967 article by Joseph Chase Allen:

The wild duck and goose on passage may well look down in surprise to see this pond. An acre, perhaps an acre and a half in area, it is so close to the waters of Vineyard Sound that hurricanes have always driven the sea through gaps in the sand dunes to flood the narrow deep valley beyond and to swell this pond to unusual proportions.