In this serialized novel set on the Vineyard in real time, a native Islander (“Call me Becca”) returns home after many years to help her highly-respected but eccentric Uncle Abe keep his landscaping business, Pequot, afloat. Abe has a paranoid hatred of Richard Moby, the CEO of an off-Island wholesale nursery. He is convinced that Moby wants to destroy Abe personally, as well as all Island-based landscaping/nursery businesses. Abe is now obsessed with “taking down” Moby before Moby can damage Pequot or any other Island grower.

The Martha’s Vineyard NAACP and the Oyster Bar & Grill are presenting a series of four summer luncheons with guest speakers who have made successful careers in broadcasting entrepreneurship, in organizational management and human resources, in writing, and in medicine. Lunch and dialogue is open to all. The events are at 12:30 p.m. at the Oyster Bar & Grill at 57 Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs. Cost is $30 per person per luncheon, to benefit the Island branch of the NAACP.

The speakers will be as follows:

The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society concludes its 38th summer season this Monday and Tuesday with an ambitious finale that includes a world premiere and the first-ever performance of a classic Stravinsky piece on the Island.

On August 11 at the Old Whaling Church and August 12 at the Chilmark Community Center, the trio of violinist Nancy Wu, clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Delores Stevens will perform the premiere of Then and Now and Forever, a piece commissioned by the chamber music society and written by the noted composer Morton Subotnik.

A Sunday matiné e musical puppet show for all ages at Che’s Lounge will feature musical monkeys who love to dance and play, with their friends Bella and Arakataka’s Little Band. Are You Looking for Bananas? is the name of this happy play about a musical land where musician monkeys live and enjoy life.

The play and its songs are written by Bella and they are performed live in both English and Portuguese by Bella and Carol Loud, a music teacher for children.

The executive director of J Street, the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement, Jeremy Ben-Ami speaks tonight, Friday, August 8, at 7 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center.

Francis-Carroll Nuptials

Jennifer Francis and Christopher Carroll were married June 7 at The Beechmoor in Onset. Jennifer was born on the Vineyard in 1981 and raised here till she was eight. The Carrolls now reside with their son Shane in West Yarmouth.

An update is the first order of business. The pair of merlins that were seen on Chappaquiddick in late June and early July has caused quite a stir. The male and female were both observed by several people and reacted in a very territorial fashion.

Megan Avery Will Wed

Richard C. Avery and Suzanne McAllister-Avery announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Diane Avery, to Nathan Scott Zellner, both of Austin, Tex. Ms. Avery also is the granddaughter of the late Edythe M. Avery and Donald W. Avery of Oak Bluffs and Arlington. A Nov. 1 wedding is planned.

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

The days this summer for eating locally caught fluke on the Vineyard are coming to a close.

Fluke, also called summer flounder, are a flat fish. Their fillets are white and tasty, and most come from Vineyard Sound. Since the start of the summer, fluke have been the catch of the day.

On Tuesday, the state closed the commercial season for landing fluke, based on projected estimates that the state quota had been met.

On July 12, 2008, Morgan Elizabeth Taylor became the bride of Robert F. Lucero. The ceremony was performed under the cottonwood trees at Horse Creek Cattle Company Ranch in Horse Creek, Wyo. A reception followed at the same location.

The bride is the daughter of Robert and Constance Taylor of Chilmark. The bridegroom is the son of Margaret Lucero and Flavio Lucero of Cheyenne, Wyo.