JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Well, it was the wettest on record for the Vineyard, with over eight inches of rain. Now that is far less than other parts of the commonwealth, but a lot for us. For the second time in a month the governor declared a state of emergency. The weekend was about 30 degrees colder than the previous week, and the month went out like a lion with a three-day northeast storm.

On Saturday the library will host an Easter egg hunt from 11 a.m. until all the eggs are gone. The library will be closed on Sunday for Easter.

John Kelleher, senior deacon, reports that the Congregational Church’s Easter sunrise service is at 5:45 a.m. down Littlefield Lane across from Polly Hill Arboretum, and the 9 a.m. Easter service includes childcare and the annual Easter egg hunt for the children. There is also an 11 a.m. service. The 9 and 11 a.m. services are at the church. Communion will be offered at all of the church services. All are welcome to celebrate Easter.

Liz reports that Vineyard Gardens will be hosting its 20th annual Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m. sharp Sunday, April 4, at the nursery on State Road. There will be plenty of chocolate-filled eggs to find, and a separate toddler section, too.

On Saturday at 11 a.m. there will be a one-hour lecture on spring bulbs with Chris Wiley at Vineyard Gardens.

Jeremy Berlin, of Elias Way, reports that he returned recently from several musical engagements with Nina Simone’s former band in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. While in Australia they performed in the Sydney Opera House, which he says was fantastic. After his return he went to France for six days and played with a blues band. He was home in time to experience the monsoon rainstorms.

Amy Houghton, of Great Neck Road, reports that on Monday she will become the director of communication and development at the Vineyard Nursing Association. She has enjoyed her time at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and looks forward to this new challenge.

Our condolences to the family of Barbara Foote Fales (Bunny), who passed away on March 20 in Pompano Beach, Fla. It was reported that she was eagerly planning her annual trip to the Island.

Phyllis Meras, of Music street, returned home on Wednesday after a business trip down to New York city. She was able to conduct her business despite the heavy rain that engulfed the city. Sal Laterra, of Providence, R.I. was to arrive yesterday to spend Easter with her.

Leslei Monast, of Waldron’s Bottom Road, will be hosting a small gathering of friends Thursday to help celebrate her husband’s 63rd birthday. Congratulations Will, you can now apply for Social Security benefits, an AARP credit card and a senior discount card from the council on aging!

Debra and Ron Kokernak, of Webster, are arriving today to spend the Easter weekend with friends.

Joan Jenkinson, animal control officer, reminds you that tomorrow the rabies clinic will be held at the Public Safety Building in North Tisbury from 10 a.m. to noon. Joan will be selling dog licenses to pet owners who had forgotten they were due in January.

Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports there are no contested offices. A member of the park and recreation committee can be elected on write-ins as there are no candidates on the ballot. Sort of a lackluster election, but please do cast your vote.

The town meeting warrant contains 48 articles this year. Items expected to generate discussion are the annual budget, salary scale, and a number of community preservation articles, including funding a study of the Mill Pond. Simone DeSorcy, planning board secretary, reports that the board hired a consultant to help rewrite the section of the zoning bylaw that covers cell towers. The proposed new cell tower bylaw (Article 9) is 20 pages long and is not printed in the town report; however the complete warrant article is available at the town clerk’s office, the library and Howes House, where it can be reviewed.

The Mill Pond committee invites you to come for an in-depth conversation about the condition of the Mill Pond and how it might best be managed. The discussion will happen on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Howes House. They urge you to attend as they expect to have a limited amount of time to make a presentation at town meeting.

Melanie Chaunce, musical director at the school, reports that next Friday and Saturday students will be putting on a Caribbean folk tale, Once on This Island. There will be a benefit reception afterward for Haitian relief efforts.

Marsha Winsryg, of Great Neck Road, reports that the African artists’ community development project will hold an open house tomorrow afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m. with a Zambian slide show, dolls, crafts, discussion and chai. Her house is off New Lane — follow the balloons or call 508-693-4059.

“On May 3, 1948, Manuel Sylvia started work on restoring the Mill Pond. He had devised his own adaptation of a dragline to remove the weeds and marine growth that have entirely covered the surface of the pond. The dredging operation began about two weeks ago, and he has only been able to get in two days of work because of the heavy rain. In this short time the scraper has made a clean sweep several yards wide that has made a noticeable difference already. It appears that it will be a comparatively short job to restore the pond to its original depth and beauty and at a moderate cost. Manuel estimates he has removed a depth of 18 inches of mud from the bottom of the pond so far. Despite the fact that the sluice gates are open on the south shore bordering the road, the heavy rain has raised the surface of the pond. It has been helpful in carrying off bits of weeds and small pieces of debris that his bucket has dislodged. When it is again dammed the waters are expected to rise another six inches making the pond 24 inches deep.”

Happy birthday to: Joan Houston, Rebecca Cohen, John Stanwood, Ben Williams and Brandyn Sylvia today; Doris Day, Rosemary DeSorcy, Charles Terry and Stacy Gouldrup tomorrow; Deborah Mayhew, Marlene Distefano and Andrew Warlock on Sunday; Richard Glassberg, Janice Sparks, Phil Spaulding, Charles Hodgkinson and Kelly McCarthy on Monday; Micheline Sonia, Lynne Dwane, Ken Vanderlaske and Suzanne St. Andre on Tuesday; and Don Ogilvie, Craig Saunders, Joshua Alwardt and Adam Sullivan on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Kaitlyn Hart.

Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. If you have any news to share, please call or e-mail me. I am quite sure that on Sunday that you ladies will all be wearing colorful Easter bonnets and the men sporting new neckties. Those of us with a Portuguese heritage will continue the time-honored tradition of giving a loaf of Easter sweet bread (with hard-boiled eggs inside) to their friends and neighbors. Best wishes for a happy Easter, and have a great week.