Give Different

Holiday gifts don’t always come wrapped in paper and tied with a bow. On Sunday, Nov. 15, the Federated Church is introducing an alternative way to give at a Mission Fair scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Parish House, 45 South Summer street, Edgartown. In addition to a presentation of the church’s various projects and missions, the fair will provide an opportunity to donate to a number of different charities, a more meaningful gift than yet another snowflake sweater.

It appears that tenants will be secure at least through January in the four Island towns where rental housing contracts were put in jeopardy two weeks ago, when the Island Affordable Housing Fund could not pay the monthly subsidies.

The Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. To commemorate the milestone, we are hosting an event on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. at the Dukes County Court House in Edgartown.

Birdies for Baseball

The fifth annual Birdies for Baseball Charity Golf Tournament was held Saturday, Oct. 24 at Mink Meadows Golf Club. First place went to the REMAX team of Duncan Cooper, Joyce Cooper, Wes Nagy and Chris Chvatal. Second place went to the Island Propane Inc. team of John Dutton, Bob Murray, Andy Downs and John Rancourt. Third place went to Breese Architects team of Cheryl Crowther, Cindy Anderson, Sasha White and Steve Pogue. The weather was great and baseball players of Martha’s Vineyard were the ultimate beneficiaries.

Sharky’s Cantina of Edgartown presents Wingfest 2009, a fundraiser for the Martha’s Vineyard Boys’ and Girls’ Club, on Saturday, November 7, from noon to 3 p.m. Twelve organizations will come together to try for the honor of Wingfest Champion. Booths include the Edgartown Police Department, Edgartown Firemens’ Association, Oak Bluffs Fire Department, Edgartown Town Hall, the Edgartown School, the Martha’s Vineyard Harley Riders, Nectar’s, the Black Dog, Vineyard Vines and others.

Halloween, which has its roots in both a celebration of the change in seasons and a day to honor the memory of our ancestors, is not a federally recognized holiday, but this year it falls on a Saturday. It won’t happen again until 2015, so enjoy it.