The Adult and Community Education Program of Martha’s Vineyard will hold a free course sampling fair on Sept. 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the high school cafeteria to allow prospective students to meet instructors of the 50 courses and seminars offered this fall. A representative from Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies will also be available to meet with students about the courses for undergraduate and graduate credit offered in collaboration with ACE MV. This is a long-awaited and much needed educational opportunity for the Island community.

Jeanne Campbell will present a program called The Galapagos on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

Following in the footsteps of Darwin, the Campbell family set out on an excursion sailing from island to island in the Archipiélago deColón (Galapagos Islands). Stopping at the various islands, Jeanne Campbell documented their discoveries. The youngest member of the expedition, Freddy, often discovered some of the most fascinating features of the islands. Jeanne will present her slide show and talk about the Galapagos.

Beatles Book Published

Tom Dresser’s new book, It Was 40 Years Ago Today, has been published to coincide with the anniversary of the Beatles releasing their final, famous recording, Abbey Road, 40 years ago — on Sept. 12, 1969. The Oak Bluffs author’s newest work contains a compendium of Beatle albums, background information on their songs, dozens of comments by Beatles fans and coming-of-age memories of the sixties.

Author John Hough Jr. talks about his acclaimed new book, Seen the Glory, about two brothers from Martha’s Vineyard during the Civil War, at the Chilmark Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Book Discussion

Book discussion of Five Quarters of the Orange, by Joanne Harris, is at the Oak Bluffs library from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Copies of the book are available to borrow from the library. All are invited to read the book and join the discussion meeting.

Budding

In our neighborhood the Russian Olive

Is first to extrude its buds.

Along its slender branches, and at their tips,

Ten thousand tiny commas and apostrophes

Suddenly appear in March.

Within them,

Deep down,

Are ten thousand unborn berries

That burst out in tart profusion

For me to gather on a September stroll,

To make my lips pucker in delight.