I am filling in for Hermine this week — she lost her brother, Mark Smith, this past weekend, and is heading down to Connecticut to be with her family. We all send our thoughts and prayers to Hermine and her family.
We were also saddened to learn of the passing of longtime West Tisbury resident Virginia Blakesley, who was living at Windemere.
In spring news, 7a is open again (yay!) and Alley’s has a sign up for panoramic eggs.
Congratulations to John Hough on his new book, The Fiction Writer’s Guide to Dialogue.
In library news, the library celebrated its first birthday with music from the Dunkls and the Vineyard Brass Band, Xing Senna and Lila Solway on violin, and students of Lisa Rohn and Brian Hughes on our beautiful piano. It was a great party, with over 300 attendees.
The library will host drop-in help in navigating the IRS web site, Monday evenings from 6 to 8 pm. No tax advice, just friendly Steve showing you how to work with the IRS online.
The library also hosted a discussion on vaccination with Drs. Julia Stunkel and Dana Guyer and nurses Marney Toole and Jackie Willey. We hope to have ongoing conversations with the community on this important topic.
The library would like to invite you to a book discussion on the book Being Mortal, written by Atul Gawande, moderated by Laura Murphy, R.N., on Thursday, March 26, at 3 pm. This conversation will focus on medicine and what matters most at the end of life. All are invited — copies of the book are available at all Island libraries.
The library will host the amazing knitting author Debby Ware on Sunday, March 29, 1 to 3 pm. Debby’s workshops are always a huge success. Each student will learn to create a one-of-a-kind baby hat. Please call the library to preregister (508-693-3366).
The fabulous Tim Boland, director of the Polly Hill Arboretum, will be presenting a Spring Lecture Series at the library, beginning this Saturday, March 28, at 2:30. The first talk is “Healing Fragmented Landscapes with Native Plants.” The series will run through May 30.
On Monday, March 30, from 4 to 5 pm, Jennifer Burkin will lead a teen/tween craft, “Half face art workshop.” Participants will work with drawing, photographs, and faces. It is free and open to tweens and teens 18 and under.
Nelia is off to California to bring her mom Gene Whitlock to the East Coast. Welcome Gene!
Ginger Norton and her husband, Doug Ruskin, left for New Orleans on Tuesday — have some beignets for us!
Maureen Hall is back from a relaxing vacation in Florida — she managed to get some freckles even though she was not in the sun.
Jennifer Tseng just returned from Missoula, where she attended a creative writing conference, “Thinking Its Presence: The Racial Imaginary.” Jennifer gave a reading, and listened to lots of great writers, including mega award-winning poet Claudia Rankine.
Xing Senna and Sydney Emerson both celebrated their birthday on Monday, March 23 (9 years old!).
Mass Audubon at Felix Neck welcomes Alexandra (Ally) Ferland to the Felix Neck staff. Ally is Felix Neck’s new education assistant, and will work closely with Josey Kirkland, education coordinator, to provide nature education programming to students in the Island school system. She will also lead public programs for the community at the sanctuary during the summer season.
Ally will be heading up the Nursery School Naturalist program for preschoolers beginning April 2. This program runs every other Thursday from April 2 to June 11 at the sanctuary from 10:30am to 11:30am. Participants will look for signs of spring and watch the season unfold at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary through stories, crafts, walks, live animal presentations, and more! Ages 3 to 5 with a parent/friend, $6 per child for members of Mass Audubon and $9 per session for nonmembers.
The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury will have a traditional Palm Sunday service on Sunday, March 29, at 10 am.
On Thursday, April 2, at 7:30 pm, the church will conduct a Tenebrae service. Tenebrae (Latin for “shadows” or “darkness”) is one of the oldest traditions in the Christian church for the commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus. The service will conclude in darkness and silence to remember the story of Jesus’ betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. The service is held on Holy or Maundy Thursday, and includes communion. All are welcome. For more information, please call 508-693-2842.
