Eat Before Swim

A shark bite never felt so good.

This weekend the YMCA is celebrating all things Mako, the local swim team, of course.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. the Y turns into an Italian restaurant with a benefit pasta dinner prepared by Tea Lane Caterers; you supply the Billy Joel.

The cost is $15 for individuals and $45 for a family ticket. Tickets are available at the Y in advance and on the night of the event.

High School Science Fair

The regional high school science fair is next Saturday, Feb. 11, beginning at 9 a.m. at the high school. The fair is organized by science teacher Jackie Hermann with more than 100 students presenting their projects.

Everyone is invited, you don’t have to be a parent or a judge, to check out the great scientific minds of our not-too-distant future.

Judging takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. and includes both on and off-Island judges. The fair opens to the public at 11 a.m. Awards are announced at noon.

Foods of Italy

February blues have you down? Skies gray, food choices minimal, and it’s still weeks away from school break and a potential vacation? How about a gastronomical trip to Italy via the Edgartown Library Foundation?

On Friday, Feb. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. the library is hosting a tour of Italy with a wine and cheese bonanza. The food tour to benefit the library takes place at Lattanzi’s Restaurant in Old Post Office Square in Edgartown.

Artisan Festival Talk

Ever wonder how the Artisans Festival began, what they were like in the early days, and even, perhaps, where they are headed? Well, on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m., Andrea Rogers, the maestro behind what has become a Vineyard institution (and an impressive broom maker too) is giving a talk at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

The library knows how to treat its visitors too; refreshments will be served following the talk.

For more details, call 508-696-4211.

Farm Neck Grants

The Farm Neck Foundation, a charitable corporation created by the Farm Neck Golf Club, has awarded $36,000 in grant money to 16 Island organizations, programs and nonprofits. The grants are intended to provide charitable assistance exclusively for Martha’s Vineyard.

Recipients of the 2011 annual grants are listed below.

Arts Grants

Calling all Island artists, the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Visual Arts (MVCVA) has declared that supporting and encouraging creative endeavors is the new focus of this arts organization. And they are putting money where their mouth is with grant money available for artists of all mediums..

Applications are being accepted until April 1 and are available on the MVCVC Web site at artmv.org or by contacting Renee Balter at 508-696-7643 or [email protected].