Almost a week after the devastating Independence Day fire which destroyed Café Moxie and severely damaged the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, workmen finally began clearing away debris from the scene yesterday.

The smell of smoke still wafts along Main street Vineyard Haven, but the activity at last signals the start of the recovery process, delayed while insurance inspectors did their job.

It is understood both buildings and their contents were well insured. And both the owner of the Bunch of Grapes, Jon Nelson, and the owner of Café Moxie, Austin Racine, have expressed their determination to reopen.

In the meantime, the Tisbury business community is facing the prospect of a season deprived of one of the town’s major attractions and one of its better restaurants. Having lost tens of thousands of dollars after the town was essentially shut down on July 4 — normally one of the big trading days — they continued fear a decline in trade.

And so they have begun, in the words of Tisbury Business Association head, Leslie Hewson, “feverishly planning” ways to keep people coming into town.

A task force comprising representatives of the Tisbury Business Association, town government, the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and others is finalizing plans for at least two major street events over the next couple of months to try get across the message that the town remains as vital as ever.

The first, to be called Midsummer on Main, will happen on July 17, from 4 to 8 p.m.

“The idea,” said Ms. Hewson, “is not to fund raise, but to revitalize.

“Even in the light of our devastating loss of an anchor business and one of the best restaurants in the town, the message is to move forward.”

“So it will be a no-cost event, intended simply to bring people in and show them what life there is here.”

To that end, the organizers hope to attract Island artists, to set up their easels and their work all over town.

“And people can come and buy their art, or simply watch them make their art.”

And there will be a kids’ art wall, and music and sidewalk chalking. Unlike this week’s street fair, which became in part a fundraiser for the fire victims, there will be no collection jars.

As for the artists who take part, they will be asked to pay a $50 deposit to secure their attendance, but this will be refunded when they show up on the day, and they will keep 100 per cent on any sales.

Those interested in taking part can get in touch through Ms. Hewson at the Mediterranean restaurant or the Featherstone center for the arts. Organizers hope to have the line-up of artists ready by this coming Friday.

A second event is planned for August 17, the only other day in the summer calendar the task force identified where they would not be in competition with any other organized island activities.

More details of that one are to be worked out at future meetings of the task force, but it might be a clambake on Main.

And finally, there are plans to organize a third event in September, after the end of the summer rush, to thank all the fire fighters and others who helped on the day of the fire.

Selectman Jeff Kristal, a former head of the town business association and a member of the task force, said yesterday he was pleased at the pace at which things were moving.

“They’re removing the debris as we speak. And I believe the TBA is going to take this idea and run with it — to put the businesses back together on Main street,” he said.