This is the last column for the month of April, and as we roll into May, let’s take a moment to recognize that 30 percent of 2026 has already flown by. I’d love to know how your spring was, and what’s new with you! Email me at marnely@gmail.com with any fun family, business, or personal updates you’d like to share with the general public. The more we share, the deeper our communities become, forming bonds that connect us to one another in a way that just waving hello while walking down Main Street can’t do.
On that note, Jim Athearn of Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown emailed me this week, letting me know that Simon Athearn and his 12-year-old son Ignatius from Crow Hollow Farm in West Tisbury are hiking a historic pilgrimage route in the county of Kent, in southeastern England. Kent was the birthplace of their first Island ancestor, who settled on Martha’s Vineyard in 1662, also named Simon Athearn. The route takes them about 100 miles across Kent from Merstham to Canterbury on the North Down Way, then to Dover with its famous White Cliffs. The trail passes through a spectacular expanse of diverse farmland, and Jim says that the photos Simon has sent are highly entertaining to their farming family back home here on M.V. I can’t wait to connect with Simon when he’s back and hear more about this adventure! And for the gardeners out there, Morning Glory Farm has its greenhouse plant sale starting on May 1, so make sure to stop by and check out the offerings.
Thanks to my friend Roberta, I’m getting all the Chappy information! Here’s what she’s reporting: a reminder about the spring cleanup at the Chappy Community Center on May 2, starting at 9 am. Join your Chappy neighbors to get the CCC ready for the season! Lunch, snacks, and drinks provided. Contact chappyccenter@gmail.com or call 774-310-1348 with questions. Rain date is May 3. And she also mentioned that the CCC Fine Arts and Artisan Show has put out a call for artisans, open to anyone — not just Chappy residents! The show is on July 25. The event is a fundraiser for the CCC and a celebration of our unique artistic community. If you’re an artist who’s looking to head over to Chappy to showcase your work, reach out to Tina Humber-Floyd at chappyccenter@gmail.com or 508-627-8222 for questions or more information.
Back in Edgartown, my friend and talented author Thomas Dresser is speaking at the Edgartown library on May 7 at 6 pm on his new book, “Historic Storms of Martha’s Vineyard.”
He will discuss the Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635, as well as the year without a summer. He shares that he will have tales from the ’38 Hurricane and the Great Atlantic Storm of ’44. Plus, of course, everyone knows Hurricane Bob, so he’ll share some Bob stories as well! I wouldn’t miss this if I were you.
Two fun events at the Harbor View Hotel this coming week: On May 2 it’ll be hosting a fun Kentucky Derby Party, and on May 5, make sure to celebrate with them with a Cinco de Mayo Island-style! More details on the website: harborviewhotel.com/events.
No birthdays that I know of this week — and people always ask me how do I know what birthdays to share? Easy: Facebook. But if we’re not friends on Facebook, I won’t be alerted to your birthday, so if you’d like to see a shout-out, make sure to send me an email! You know where to find me.