Island health boards are urging a newly aggressive approach to combating Lyme disease, proposing a five-year comprehensive study that would examine, among other things, drastically reducing the Island’s deer population.

The Vineyard study would piggyback off a recent report from the Nantucket Tick-Borne Disease Committee, which argues for culling its herd of approximately 2,500 deer to 500 or fewer animals, a process the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife expects to take roughly a decade.

Golf Goodness

The sixth annual Birdies for Baseball charity golf tournament will take place Saturday, Oct. 23 at Mink Meadows Golf Club in Vineyard Haven.

Enjoy breakfast, lunch, great prizes and of course, golf.

Fee is $90 per player with sponsorships available. All proceeds benefit the VBI Scholarship and field maintenance funds.

For more information, call 508-989-8154. To register, call 508-693-0600.

The 21st annual Oak Bluffs Columbus Day 5K road race will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10. The one-mile fun run will kick off at 10:30 a.m.

The race begins at the Wesley Hotel on the Oak Bluffs harbor. After the gun goes off it’s up and around East Chop. If you hit the wall, simply stroll for awhile and enjoy the breathtaking views of Vineyard Sound.

Bodhi Path

The Bodhi Path Buddhist Center’s off-season schedule will include meditation sessions on four days of the week.

Tuesday and Thursday sessions will be from 6 to 7 p.m., Saturday mornings will be from 10 to 11:15 a.m. and include sitting meditation and yoga. On Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. there will be meditation or teachings.

The Bodhi Path center is located at 21 Laurand Drive in West Tisbury. For more information, call 508-696-5929.