Aquinnah

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Well, did I jump the gun on the welcoming of spring last week or what? I woke up last Thursday to five inches of snow, convinced that we would have a snow day. To my surprise, we did not. And then by the end of the day all the snow was gone.

My crocuses are still blooming, but I do think it could be a little warmer, please? I’m so tired of my winter jacket and my heavy boots. At least Chilmark Chocolates is re-opening today, so it will make the cold a little sweeter.

Today is Natalie Francis’s last day at the library. After many years of service she is retiring from the library to spend more time with her family. There will be an open house today from 2 to 7 pm and a ceremony with refreshments and cake at 5 pm. Please come and pay tribute to Natalie and thank her for all her hard work over the years.

In other library news there will be a Fine Amnesty Week in honor of National Library Week, April 10 through April 16.

From Sunday through Saturday, April 10 through 16, there will be amnesty for materials returned, and no questions asked. The library is delighted to honor the spirit of National Library Week, and is asking everyone to look under their beds, behind the sofa and in the kitchen cupboards for library books, DVDs, and CDs. Bring them back to the desk, or put them in the book drop slot on the shed door. The Martha’s Vineyard Library Association supports Fine Amnesty Week.

Next Saturday, April 9, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Chilmark Community Center there will be a Spring Fling to benefit the Chilmark Preschool. Bring your family for games, crafts, pony rides, lunch, and more. This was a very fun event last year and is great for kids of all ages.

That same Saturday at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services from 9 am to 2 pm you can bring in your old electronics for environmentally safe disposal. Fees range from $1 to $30. and all proceeds benefit MVCS.

Do you need help getting your small business off the ground? The Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network is offering a small business grant of $2,500 to improve, grow, or start a new business on the Island. The grant is open to all business people, men and women; the application is free to members and $110 for non-members. The deadline for the grant is April 8, 2011.

It’s time to start planning for summer — namely, what are the kids going to do while you’re at work? Sassafras has just announced their day camp schedule. It starts in July and may cover a week in August as well. Each week is a different theme, so check out the website. The camp is open for kids ages 6 to 13, and is held Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For all the information, you can call Saskia at 508-645-2008 or 774-563-0628, or go to sassafrasmvy.org.

I was talking to Spencer the other day at Alley’s and we were watching all the kids come in after school to buy their candy. I said, “If I had all the money I ever spent on candy, soda, Hostess cupcakes, I would be rich.”

“You and me both,” said Spencer.

Then once I left and thought about it a little more I realized that if I saved the money from my Chilmark Chocolates and Scottish Bakehouse habits for a year I could probably go on vacation next February. Knowing me, I won’t stop frequenting either establishment, but maybe I will start a vacation fund and I’ll put into it all the money I don’t spend on vegetables because I’m too busy eating chocolate.