Bullying behaviors among children of all ages has reached epidemic proportions. More than 160,000 children in this country miss school each day because they are afraid of attacks or intimidation by a peer. This destructive pattern can begin as early as preschool and it is essential that parents, educators and communities work together to remedy this situation that can have lifelong effects.

Floral arranger Mary Louise Perry and assistant arranger Wiet Bacheller will represent the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club for Art in Bloom 2009 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

They will create a flower design that interprets a work of art, one of 50 designs to be done by New England Garden Clubs in this springtime tradition.

This three-day festival showcasing flower arranging as an art form takes place from Saturday, April 25, through Monday, April 27.

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Minnesingers are in rehearsal mode for a very busy spring performance season. On April 4, they will participate in the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors’ Association festival at Algonquin Regional High School. Competing against set performance standards, they will be judged in several categories including tone quality, balance and blend, expression, rhythmic and intonation precision, and style. This is their first trip to a MICCA festival in 10 years.

Shellfish Talk

Rick Karney will talk about the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group and aquaculture at the Vineyard Haven Public Library on April 8 at 7 p.m. The shellfish group is a nonprofit organization; Mr. Karney has been the shellfish group biologist and director since 1979.

All are invited.

Two Gentlemen of Verona was young Will Shakespeare’s first-ever romantic comedy. This weekend only, you’ll have a chance to see the Bard’s beginnings, in a script-in-hand performance of a story you simply have to see to believe.

The musical puppet show The Hole Without A Bottom (O Buraco Sem Fundo) premieres at Che’s Lounge on Sunday, April 5, and will continue every Sunday in April at 11:30 a.m.

Featuring Island performer Bella, The Hole Without A Bottom is an original play adapted from an original story, performed in English and Portuguese. The suggested donation is $5.