JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Chilmark has a whole new look with bright daffodils nodding in the wind all over town. What a lift to our winter-numbed spirits the flowers are. There are many other colors nestled in the groundcover in sheltered yards and fat buds on many trees. Welcome, spring!

Several markers of the season are all around us. The annual town meeting is coming up on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the community center. The warrant is available for your reading at the Chilmark website and at the town clerk’s desk in town hall.

The town election will be on April 30 at the community center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The special primary elections will be held at the same time. You will be given two ballots at that time.

Please note that Wednesday, April 10, will be the last day to register to vote and/or change your party enrollment for this year’s election. The hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m. If you have questions, please call town clerk Jennifer Christy.

There will be a gathering of friends and family at the Chilmark Community Center on April 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. to remember Mike Syslo. Guests are asked to bring an appetizer or hors d’oeuvres. Mike was well-known to many in Chilmark and across the Island and is missed.

April 1 has special meaning for the Nitchie family, who tell us that the Banjo Newsletter was out on that date. The Nitchie family has published this magazine for 40 years. Hubbard began the publication to share information with banjo players and it has been a popular item ever since. Hubbard began the newsletter 40 years ago while the family was living on the Vineyard. His sons, Donald and Spencer, have continued the publication for the past 20 years. It is on line and can be found on the World Wide Web. Congratulations to them!

There will be a public forum regarding the proposed bylaw to be considered at town meeting on April 11 at 5 p.m. at town hall. All are welcome to come and join the discussion.

Electronic disposal day is this Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services campus across from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

The Mayhew and Follensbee families invite us to a celebration of the life of Todd Follensbee to be held at the Agricultural Hall at 5 p.m. on April 6. There will be a memorial service at 5 p.m. with a potluck dinner following and music by local bands. You may reach Deborah Mayhew with questions at drdeb@vineyard.net.

Another sure sign of spring is the biannual Women’s Symposium. This year they will gather on April 27 at the Chilmark Community Center from 9 a.m. to noon. The subject this time will be The Power of Words. All women are invited. There is no charge and donations are welcome to cover the costs. Refreshments are served. Please call Bonnie George at 508-645-3214 with questions.

David and Catha Carlson with sons, Luke and Scott, came from New York city for the Easter week at their Peaked Hill home. They shared the holiday dinner with Catha’s parents, Bob and Barbara Day, at their West Tisbury home.

Please wave to Susan Larsen when you pass her walking on North Road. She is in training for her fourth Avon walk for cancer on May 18 and 19 in Boston. Sue, a three-year cancer survivor, has participated in the Avon walk the past three years and will now move on to a volunteer job with the Avon organization. Sue will be 50 years old this year and is setting her goal at a cumulative total of $50,000, She hopes to raise $16,000 this year to achieve that total. Sue’s ambition throughout the years has been to raise awareness of the toll of breast cancer in our world and to encourage us all to support in any way we can the need for more work to find a cure. We in Chilmark are proud of her efforts and wish her every success. You may mail her a check to Susan Larsen, 108 Hammett Lane, Chilmark, Ma. 02535 or make your tax deductible contribution at the fundraising page avonwalk.org/goto/susan.larsen.

The fire chief sends word that the burn season will end on May 1 this year. Please call him for permits before burning.