Well, it is spring, although it has not felt much like it. Neighbors are beginning the task of cleaning up the yard after the long winter, throwing away the Christmas tree that stayed remarkably green because of all of the cold weather and snow in the back yard. Some folks have already begun planting peas and other hearty vegetables in their gardens.

This is the holiest week in the Christian calendar; this Friday is Good Friday and Passover starts at sundown. The Rev. Cathlin Baker reports that the First Congregational Church will have two Easter Sunday services this year. There will be a traditional service with communion at 9 a.m. at the church on the corner of Music street and State Road. At 11 a.m. the church will host an Island community Easter service at the Agricultural Hall. Child care and church school for children ages 2 to 12 will be available, and following the service there will be an Easter egg hunt.

Alan Northcott recently returned from a visit with family in New Zealand. He reports enjoying the fishing, catching up with old friends, enjoying fine restaurants and the warm sunny weather.

Anna Alley of State Road went up to visit grandchildren Robbie and Henry last Sunday. She went on to Providence, R.I., on Monday for a number of business appointments and returned home that evening.

Nick Koines returned home last week from a winter-long trip to Ecuador and Peru. He enjoyed it very much but was glad to get home in time to see some snow.

Tara Whiting, town clerk, wants to remind you that if you will not be available to vote in person at the annual election on April 14, you can vote via an absentee ballot at the town hall until noontime on Wednesday. She also reports that the annual town reports are available at the town hall.

The annual town meeting warrant this year contains 48 articles. Items that might generate controversy are up-Island school district assessments, purchase of a building to house programs for senior citizens, authorizing the regional district school committee to borrow funds to pay for designing, constructing, equipping and furnishings in a new school administration building, and funds to continue a study of the Mill Pond watershed. There are no contests or vacancies on this year’s election ballot, but there will be four override questions facing voters.

The library will host its annual spring egg hunt on Saturday at 10 a.m. sharp. After the hunt the library will offer a family craft for ages 3 and up. For tweens and teens, there’s the chance to make eggs with the library’s new EggBot, a compact, easy to use art robot that can draw on spherical or egg-shaped objects.

Amy Hoff reports that it’s tax season again but never fear, IT librarian Steve Klebs is here to help you navigate the IRS’s website. Steve will offer drop-in help sessions from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 6, and Monday, April 13. However, he will not be offering any tax advice. These sessions are free and open to the public.

Geoff Currier reports that on April 8 the West Tisbury Library Foundation will present an evening with Geraldine Brooks. She will provide a sneak preview of her forth coming novel, The Secret Chord. This will happen at the State Road Restaurant from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Reservations are required, so please call Carol Brush at 508-693-3489.

Old friend Andy Boass, of Middle Road and Hopkinton, passed away earlier this week. The news came as a shock to his many friends. He was always ready to help you with a problem. An expert beekeeper, he sold his honey from a card table at the head of his driveway. He often could be found at the landfill carefully sorting through the scrap metal pile. He often said that was like Christmas to him. Our condolences to his wife, Susie, and her family.

Happy birthday to Stacey Goldrup, Rise Tierney, Amira Madison and Sophia Sobel on Friday, Deborah Mayhew, Joshua Platt and Shelia Franklin on Saturday; Chuck Hodgkinson, William Fielding and Phil Spaulding on Sunday; Joe Van Nes, Joan Thomas and Susan Britt on Monday; Craig Saunders, Emily Walker, Don Ogilvie, Bill Correllus and Veil Withers on Tuesday; Sally Anderson, Robin Brown, Joe Amaral, Ken Bailey and Rosalee McCullough on Wednesday; Howard Attebery, David Berlow, Jennifer Fragosa, Reid Silva, Curtis Berry, Robin Fitzpatrick and Donna Michalski on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Emily Gadd, Janice Goldiklang, Doris Clark and Kailyn Hart.

Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. Please call or email me with news you wish to share. I am sure that on Sunday, all the ladies will 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!

Send your West Tisbury news to: alleys@vineyard.net.