“When we last met...” is how Mel Patrick introduced each annual issue of the Delegate. The Delegate, published between 1965 and 1985, was a magazine that chronicled the leaders and activities of Black America’s disparate business, cultural, sports, club, labor, advertising, political and social organizations, and it always had a section devoted to Oak Bluffs. His daughter, Nashawena Park’s cottager Anne Patrick, donated a full set of these historic treasures to the Smithsonian Institution for its new National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Born aboard a ship bound for New York from Panama, Mel Patrick grew the Delegate from a four-page publication to close to 500 pages of pictures, program and agenda reprints from the year’s events, and the advertising that supported its cost. Mel Patrick knew Black organizational life strengthened the Black community. Given out at annual conventions nationwide, the Delegate was always a conversation starter. Oak Bluffs’ Islanders always claimed Mel as one of our own as he claimed OB for his family. Our parents and friends always found a place reserved ─ and preserved ─ in a few pages of the Delegate each year.

This evening at 6 p.m. at the Oak Bluffs library teens will be locked in to play games, watch movies and enjoy pizza until midnight. Tomorrow, weather permitting, kids of all ages get to Touch A Truck in the parking lot starting at 10:30 a.m.

There is a memorial service for Estelle Rae Coleman on Sunday at the Portuguese-American Club at 1 p.m. Mrs. Coleman died at the age of 92 the day before Christmas last year. The service is followed by a light lunch.

The annual All Island Arts Show is Monday at the Tabernacle from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The 12th Annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival starts Tuesday at the Performing Arts Center with 48 features being shown during the five-day festival. The Lincoln Motor Company sponsors the event. The MVAAFF debuted several film favorites that became Oscar and Emmy winners. This year they are premiering Lawrence Fishburne and Anthony Anderson’s Black-ish, the new ABC-TV sitcom. A special feature is a sneak preview of A Ballerina’s Tale, the documentary about Misty Copeland, who was here with Prince a couple of years back at the Vineyard Arts Project. Get more information at mvaaff.com.

The Scoop on Skunks is the subject of discussion on August 5 at the Oak Bluffs library — a talk by Luane Johnson, the director of Biodiversity Works. I wish skunks were ... ex-stink.

On Wednesday, August 6, the Advancement Project celebrates the Freedom Summer of 1964 at Dreamland with a panel discussion at 4:30 p.m. and a reception at 6 p.m. Admission is free. The Advancement Project is a multi-racial organization that uses innovative tools to strengthen social movements. Panelist Bob Moses is an American educator known for being a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the 1960s. Joining him is Sofia Campos, who was born in Peru and grew up in California unaware of her undocumented status until she tried applying for college scholarships. She’s the founder of United We Dream, a national network of youth-led immigrant organizations. Panelist James Hayes is part of the Ohio Student Association, a project that advocates for racial, social and economic justice. The panel is moderated by the Advancement Project’s Judith Browne Dianis. Vineyard filmmakers Stan Nelson and Marcia Smith are members of the host committee.

The Cottager’s annual Fashion Show (Elegance) takes place Thursday at Lola’s at 11 a.m. Tickets are $70 at Cottager’s Corner — if they aren’t sold out.

Incongruent may be one way to view the white Lamborghini Aventador that was parked at Nashawena Park, but it sure was gorgeous.

Remember, it’s just two weeks until Martha’s Vineyard Magazine’s event at Union Chapel (Thursday August 14) when officials from the Smithsonian share how and why Oak Bluffs was selected for the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum will show a film with the Highland’s Olive Tomlinson narrating pictures from the Shearer Cottage summer plays and movies. Author Jessica Harris will moderate a panel on what it was like growing up summers in Oak Bluffs from the 1950s to the 1980s, with panelists including Shearer descendant David Van Allen — and me! Get tickets at ticketsmv.com and support Oak Bluffs history and new national attention.

The stone work at Rock Henge at the end of the seawall grows daily with ever higher stacks of rocks unable to stand the test of wind and weather. Great idea moving the lifeguard stand at the Inkwell, Parks Department!

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send your Oak Bluffs news to: Skip@mvgazette.com.