Finally! A spring day, or at least a day that felt almost like spring. The sun was shining today, and the temperature was warm. If we could just get rid of some of this blasted wind that keeps hanging around. I know spring on the Vineyard is always windy, but this year it has seemed inordinately so. And I certainly don’t handle it any better as I get older. I just seem to get wimpier with each passing year.
I was very sorry to hear the news of Bill Bishop’s death. Bill was a fine man, and he will be missed by our community. My condolences to his family.
There will be an educational talk titled “Putting Atmospheric Carbon in Its Place — Out of the Air and In the Soil,” on Friday, April 21, from 7 pm until 9 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Hall in West Tisbury. The discussion will focus on ways to increase soil carbon content in farm fields and gardens to improve productivity and reduce carbon dioxide greenhouse gas. Featured presenters are Julie Rawson, executive director of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Massachusetts, and Jack Kittredge, from the Soil Carbon Program of NOFA, and owner and operator of Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre.
The Island Food Pantry at the Old Stone Church, Vineyard Haven, wants everyone to know that they are going to remain open on Wednesdays after they end their full schedule this Friday, April 14. They will continue to provide groceries for those in need every Wednesday from 3 pm until 6 pm until three-day service resumes in the fall. They appreciate everyone continuing to contribute to the Purple Boxes located in libraries, grocery stores, and places of worship. Without donations and those contributions, their supplies would be very limited.
Join Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Veterans Outreach Program for their third annual egg hunt to celebrate Island veterans and their families on Saturday, April 15. The event, which includes an egg hunt, arts and crafts, and healthy snacks, is free and open to the public. The egg hunt, at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, will start promptly at 10 am. All ages welcome.
Happy birthday wishes go out to Melinda Rabbitt DeFeo and Judy Norton, who celebrated their special days on April 9, and Megan McDonald, Pam Cassidy, and Kathy Mercier, who celebrated on April 12.
The Edgartown School’s fifth grade will be putting on their musical, “The Magic of Broadway,” on Thursday, April 13, at 6:30 in the school cafeteria. These are always a fun way to spend an hour or so and enjoy some quality theater.
April 22 is Earth Day this year, and the Edgartown School Garden crew welcomes students, families, and friends to help get the school garden ready for planting. The event runs from 10 am until 2 pm, and all are welcome.
The Edgartown School wrapped up its first week of MCAS 2.0 last Friday, completing the ELA section of the testing. These standardized tests happen in grades 3 through 8 each year, and they take a tremendous effort on the part of the kids and the staff. Most of the testing happens on computers these days, and we are extremely lucky, thanks to our supportive community, to have the technology equipment we need to meet this daunting task. The teachers and staff are cooperative and supportive of each other as we accomplish this testing, and the kids put in their best effort and really step up to the plate to focus and work hard. It’s one of those times that we really are “all in this together.” I have great respect and appreciation for the people I work with. They really give it their all each day.
I hope you all have a great week. Remember next week is school vacation week, so you’ll likely be seeing lots of kiddos out and about! Drive with extra care. Happy Easter.
