Dukes County Veterans Agent Jo Ann Murphy is cautioning Vineyarders to be wary of telephone solicitations to raise money for veterans.

Ms. Murphy said that she’s heard from a few people who have received the phone calls, but she has not been contacted about any fund-raising endeavors that will go to Island veterans. “I haven’t heard anything,” she said. “Well, who are these people?”

“There are a lot of scams out there,” Ms. Murphy said. “I would just be leery of it.”

Go to a party, eat great food, hang with neighbors and do good at the same time. It is, as the saying goes, a no-brainer. Or better known as the Chilmark Firemen’s Association Back Yard Bash.

The bash, an annual event to raise money for the all-volunteer town fire department, takes place Wednesday, August 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center field.

Sengekontacket Pond has been closed to shellfishing through Friday, August 3 due to recent heavy rainfall. The pond will reopen to shellfishing on Friday at 7 a.m.

The pond closure is marked by red flags flying by the Big and Little Bridges.

The closures do not apply to boaters or swimmers.

Two searches and one appointment later, the Martha’s Vineyard public school district is back to square one in its search for a new director of student support services, following the abrupt departure of the person chosen for the job.

Lynn Silva, a Maine educator who was appointed to the job in May, resigned four days after starting on July 1, citing personal and health reasons, according to Vineyard schools superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss. She was to replace Dan Seklecki, who retired after holding the position for 30 years.