Parents, grandparents, and children filled the field at Sunday’s Easter egg hunt at the firehouse across from us. An enormous pink and white rabbit greeted everyone. Colored eggs were everywhere. Children scattered, baskets in hand, searching for treasured chocolate bunnies and eggs and jelly beans. Everyone was dressed in their holiday best. The girls looked beautiful and all the boys handsome. I hope I got everyone’s name and spelled it correctly: Kayleigh and Isabella Bollin, Amanda and Andrea Pachico, Lily Haynes, Sarah and Azor Hartenstine, Emma Arnott, Matthew and Evelyn Medieros, Kayla Oliver, Makayla and Trent Maciel, Keira Willoughby, and Emily and Madison Maciel.
Rick Reinhardsen was watching his granddaughter, Emma Arnott, here from New Hampshire with her parents and sister, Anna. It was a busy weekend for the Reinhardsens, with not only Easter to celebrate, but also the first birthday of their grandson, Frankie Marullo. Frankie, his big sister, Gratia, and their parents were here from New Jersey. From Brooklyn, N.Y., Christian Reinhardsen and his friend, Wendy, came to join the family at Rick and Cristina’s.
Two Easter birthdays this year, April 4, were Connor Bettancourt and Nathaniel Haynes. Happy birthday wishes to you both.
Margaret and Bill Burke were on Island visiting their daughter, Jennifer Haynes, and her family for the holiday weekend. Jennifer and Bruce hosted a brunch for the whole family on Sunday morning, before the Burkes left for home and Lily, in a flouncy pink skirt, was brought to the firehouse egg hunt. Bruce’s parents, Betty and Bill, were there, sporting tans from their Florida vacation and for Bill, a new beard that looks quite dashing.
Chris Wiley gave an excellent lecture on early spring bulbs, the first of the summer’s series at Vineyard Gardens. The lectures on a variety of subjects are held Saturday mornings at 11 am. We all went home with heads full of information and pots of wood hyacinths, gifts from Chris. Check with Vineyard Gardens for the weekly topic.
I was happy to see Eleanor Neubert on Saturday. Her daughter, Sarah, has been living in the family farmhouse down at Flat Point Farm, and Eleanor mentioned that would be the gathering place for the Fischer family’s Easter dinner. I’m pleased to think of that wonderful house filled with people and laughter as it was when Arnie Sr. and Priscilla presided within. Also noteworthy at Flat Point are 36 lambs in the field and an April Fool’s Day-born calf.
Congratulations to John Stanwood, the winner of the Charter School raffle. For his $1 ticket, he won a year’s worth, 365 cups, of coffee at Alley’s. Wow! The raffle raised $150 for the Charter School; they want to thank Rhonda, Cherrilla, and Alley’s for the prize.
Ginny Jones has returned from a cross-country train trip to San Diego to visit her son, Douglas. There is something romantic (romance like “Travels With Charlie”) about traveling by train, seeing the country from the window of your own little room with bed and bath, having meals in a dining car. From Ginny’s description, much of it is still that way. She is also an excellent writer. I enjoyed her accounts of Chicago’s outskirts sounding still like something out of Upton Sinclair, of paddlewheel gambling boats on the Mississippi, snow-capped mountains and endless evergreens in Colorado, elk prints, and old mines, all viewed from a train called Southwest Chief.
If you yearn for travel, you can experience the tropical rhythms and melodies of a Caribbean island without leaving home. West Tisbury School students are performing in “Once On This Island, Junior” tomorrow, April 9, at 7 pm, and Saturday, April 10, at 2 pm. Twenty-three actors, grades 5-8, directed by Beebee Horowitz, with music by teacher Melanie Chaunce, choreography by Judy McCarthy, and help from lots of parents, all of whom have worked hard preparing for opening night. Tickets are $5.
On Sunday, April 11, there will be a memorial service for Harriet Almstead at the West Tisbury Church at 12:30 pm. Following the service will be a reception at the Grange Hall.
Also at the church Sunday afternoon, the Vineyard Sinfonietta will perform at 3 o’clock.
Don’t forget Annual Town Meeting Tuesday, April 13, 7 pm at the school. Town election is at the Public Safety Building on Thursday. Our 2009 Town Report is available at Town Hall, the library, or the Howes House.
Jen Rand is looking for a new member for the town’s Shellfish Committee and the Police Station Study Committee. Call her at 508 696-0102 or send your letter to POB 278.
Marilyn Hollinshead reports that Warren had knee replacement surgery last Tuesday. He is recuperating at home, “in a lot of pain.” Hope you feel better soon, Warren, and are able to enjoy the lovely weather and beautiful view down on your cove.
