Edgartown: Endless gray weather

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All of this rain is starting to make me feel like a wet rag! I’m taking solace in the fact that the temperatures are at least warm and it’s not snow, but still, the gray weather and seemingly endless rain is really getting to me. I do rejoice in the brief interludes of sunshine that pop up every once in awhile, and keep my fingers crossed that the sun will soon overpower the rain. I will admit that I took full advantage of Saturday’s yucky weather and hung around the house napping and watching TV in between child transports throughout the day. It was quite glorious to ignore most of my responsibilities and not do much of anything.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Jessica Estrella, our most amazing library assistant at the Edgartown School, who celebrated on May 8; Olivia Lingren, Jo-Ann Taylor, and Cookie Perry on May 10; and Nedine Cunningham, another completely fabulous co-worker, and Charlotte McCarron on May 12. Birthday balloons all around!

The Edgartown Board of Trade’s annual Pink and Green Weekend is happening this weekend, with numerous events planned to celebrate spring and Mother’s Day. You can enjoy special sales at many of the shops in town, pink and green cocktails at Chesca’s and the Newes, a children’s carnival with dollar games and snacks, as well as a fun dog show at the Mini Park (Village Green) on Main Street on Saturday afternoon, a 5K fun run/walk at 9 am Saturday at Right Fork in Katama to support Lyme awareness and the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, and so much more. Visit the Edgartown Board of Trade’s Pink and Green Weekend website at bit.ly/pnkngreen.

The Vineyard Montessori School invites you to its annual fundraiser, “Big Night Out,” at the Harbor View Hotel on Saturday night, May 13, from 7 pm until 10 pm. Your $30 ticket will include live music and a silent auction of the best Vineyard items you (or Mom!) could wish for. Eat, drink, and dance the night away in support of Vineyard Montessori School. Please call 508-693-4090 with questions.

Your local libraries and the MVRHS are collectively sponsoring a screening of the documentary “Screenagers” at the PAC on Monday, May 15, at 6:30 pm. This important film is about growing up in the digital age, and the event is free for all interested in attending. It will be followed by a panel discussion. The description, taken directly from their website, says “Awardwinning ‘Screenagers’ probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including the director’s own, and depicts messy struggles, over social media, video games, academics, and Internet addiction. Through surprising insights from authors and brain scientists, solutions emerge on how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world.” As a technology teacher, I personally don’t think that we can learn enough about this topic quickly enough. I hope to see you there!

On Thursday, May 11, from 5 pm until 8 pm, the Island Wide Youth Collaborative is offering a workshop titled “Legal Planning for Family Members with Disabilities.” The workshop covers trusts and estate planning options, guardianship options, and government benefits. An attorney with Fletcher Tilton PC, Frederick M. Misilo has been an advocate for people with disabilities for more than 30 years. His experience includes providing training to families, special educators, and other professionals. He specializes in legal and financial planning for people with disabilities. Light supper will be provided. Preregistration is required, though there is no fee to attend this workshop. Please register by calling Allyson Syslo at 508-693-7900, ext. 206, or email asyslo@mvcommunityservices.com.

On May 13 from 10 am until 11:30 am, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Family Center, in collaboration with the Island Wide Youth Collaborative, is co-hosting a “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” (GRG) group at the MV Family Center. Information about trends and issues facing grandparents raising grandchildren are shared over coffee and discussion. Preregistration for this group is required for childcare. Please call 508-687-9182.

Vineyard Gardens Nursery is offering a garden talk titled “Small Shrubs.” Learn how to design low-maintenance gardens utilizing small shrubs. This workshop demonstration will be led by Chuck Wiley at Vineyard Gardens on Saturday, May 13, at 11 am. All lecture attendees receive a 20 percent coupon that must be used the day of the lecture.

Don’t forget about the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group’s annual fundraising gala “Evening Under the Stars” on Thursday, May 18, from 5:30 until 8:30 pm at Farm Neck. The evening includes appetizers, buffet dinner, dessert, and a silent auction and cash bar. All the money raised goes directly to Island cancer patients and their families, to help with various costs of their treatments. For more information and tickets, call Annemarie Donahue at 508-627-7958.

Barbara Prada called me the other day to let me know that her donation supporting the Bishop family was returned to her as undeliverable. The mailing address I shared was incorrect. If yours came back too, you have my apologies. Apparently the correct address for You’ve Got a Friend is ℅ MV Savings Bank, P.O. Box 1317, West Tisbury, MA 02575.

Last Saturday, I watched amazingly strong-willed bikers riding around the Island in the pouring rain in support of multiple sclerosis, in the annual MS bike ride. I saw one young girl, who couldn’t have been more than 8 or 9 it seemed, battling uphill in the rain on her tiny bike, and thought to myself, “There’s a kid who is going to do great things.” I wish I knew who she was. Then I watched two people holding hands as they battled up a hill on the Vineyard Haven Road. I couldn’t tell if it was a couple or a dad and daughter or just friends. And it didn’t matter. What impressed me was that they were obviously in this together. And I realized how much I love to see people holding hands, from young children using the buddy system to older couples still madly in love in their later years. I think we should all do it more often. It can give us such a sense of security, and maybe it will help to remind us that we are all in this together.