Tonight, April 20, at 7 pm there is a meeting at the Tisbury Senior Center to review the 2017 town meeting warrant articles. Sponsors will give background information and discuss their intent. You can ask questions about what you will vote on at town meeting. This will give you a chance to see what is really happening in town.
Tisbury town meeting starts at 7 pm next Tuesday, April 25, at the Tisbury School. It is your job to be there and decide how to spend your taxes. The Vineyard Haven library will close early, at 6:30 pm, on Tuesday, April 25, for the Tisbury town meeting that evening. The library computers will be shut down at 6 pm.
The Vineyard Haven library invites all schoolchildren in grades 4, 5, and 6 to the Junior Book Club. It will meet a week from today, next Thursday, April 27, at 4:30 pm to discuss Paul Fleischman’s book “Seedfolks.” This is the story about a garbage-filled urban lot that becomes a community garden, transforming the neighborhood by bringing together 13 unlikely neighbors. Register and pick up a copy of the book at the Children’s Desk to read before the meeting. Pizza!
In celebration of Earth Day, this Saturday, April 22, children are welcome to drop in to the Children’s Room at the Vineyard Haven library all day. Kids can decorate their own reusable tote bag with colorful fabric pens.
For the first time in years, the Vineyard Conservation Society Earth Day and Beach Cleanup actually fall on the same day, April 22. Help protect wildlife from plastic pollution, beautify our Island, and kick off spring with a fun family event. All you have to do is go to your favorite beach at 10 am. Then join VCS at the Harbor View Hotel at noon for the afterparty!
Thanks to a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank and regular sponsors, the VCS afterparty this year is bigger, marking 25 years of beach cleanup. Guest speakers will share the latest research on cleaning up plastic pollution in the ocean. Also, everyone will receive a new T shirt, and MVY Radio will broadcast live from Eastville Beach. Latecomers will still get fed — no beach cleaner should go without refreshments just because they worked late. See the VCS website for a list of beaches, or just show up.
Have you been enjoying Chris Baer’s bits of history? I hope he plans to gather all his wonderful research in a book, or we will lose this important view of the past. Look for his pieces in The MV Times. Aren’t we lucky?
The Island Food Pantry in the Old Stone Church will stay open through the summer for the first time, and provide groceries for those in need every Wednesday from 3 to 6 pm until three-day service resumes in the fall. You are asked to continue to contribute to the Purple Boxes located in libraries, grocery stores, and places of worship. They will collect food donations through the summer.
Last Thursday the Christmas lights were being taken down at the YMCA. My friend commented, “Got to get them down in time for Easter.” I appreciate the man’s response: “It doesn’t matter. It’s all in honor of the same guy.”
The Memorial Day Concert of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society will be at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown on Sunday, May 28, at 4 pm. It features guest artists Patricia Cloud, faculty flute professor of the University of California at Irvine, and Jonathan Davis, professor of oboe at UCLA, accompanied by MVCMS artistic director Delores Stevens on piano.
The ferry terminal seemed more like Memorial Day weekend than Easter Sunday. Boats were waiting to load and unload, traffic was crazy, and the weather was delightful. And smiles were seen all around. In another month or two I will complain, but now I have to admit I thought it was wonderful.
Grace Episcopal Church will present Handel’s “Messiah,” Part III, next Sunday, April 23, at 4 pm. Philip Dietterich will conduct with David Rhoderick, organist. The chorus includes singers from Grace Church, the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, and the community. Soloists include Molly Conole, David Behnke, Martha Hudson, Dorian Lopes, and Becky Williams. This event is free as part of Grace Church’s celebration of the Easter season. All are welcome.
Wearable Art, especially accessories, made by local artists will be for sale at Featherstone on the last weekend of the month, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 4 pm on April 28, 29, and 30.
Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out tomorrow to Judy Nichols and to Queen Elizabeth. The queen will officially celebrate her special day in June. My English mother always said there was no good reason for kids and boots in the house in February on my birthday. She said that if the queen could celebrate in June, so could I. And no, I did not get two birthdays.
Wish a happy birthday to Becky Renear, who parties on Saturday. Tuesday belongs to Alexandra Habekost.
Heard on Main Street: April showers bring May flowers, and the dandelions of summer.