KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

Well, Mother Nature has really shown her forces this week. We got rain, we got wind and we got sun. But it looks as if we are going to get heat next week, which will be a great welcome with the sun.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Matthew Strem, Jordan Tate-DaSilva, Joshua Tate-DaSilva and Kasey Varkonda, who celebrated their day April 2; Dean Hegarty and Gregory Pyden, April 4; Hailey Rogers, April 7; and to Gabriella Benoit, Cana Courtney and Maurcio Sampaio, who all celebrate their day today, April 8.

Special wishes go out to Mabel Jeanne DeRoche, who will be celebrating her first birthday on April 9.

My niece Tina, and her daughter, Audrey, and I took the dogs down to South Beach for a walk. We went to right fork and into the parking lot. We walked up on the path to the top of the dune to find we were almost in the water. The windstorm that caused plenty of havoc with the boats, tree branches and many other loose yard materials, also did a big job on the dunes. The water is almost up to the grass and the beach is going downhill making it impossible for anyone to walk on it. It was sad to see, but how do you stop nature?

We then went to Fuller Beach and enjoyed every minute of the walk. We collected shells, and even though the water was cold, the dogs loved it. Audrey has a song she sings to the dogs if they don’t follow her to the car. It was a great morning.

Justine Shemeth DeOliveira was the guest of honor at her baby shower last Saturday at the Wharf. Justine and her husband, Paulo, are expecting their first child, a boy, in May. It was a great afternoon with great company, and Justine received many beautiful gifts.

Every family has a tradition of some sort. When Justine received the picture of this strange, pixie-hatted person named Fife, everyone at the baby shower was wondering what it was all about. Seems that in the 1940s while Justine’s grandfather, Al Doyle, and her great-uncle were working on a house, which is now the Edgartown Commons, they found this picture. They soon began to wrap the picture and give it to a member of the family for any occasion. So Justine was next in line to receive it. On the back is the registry of where the picture has been. Justine received it from Jennifer Royal, and when Justine read the registry, she learned that Peggy Royal gave it to Nancy when she was pregnant with Justine. So the tradition continues, now in its third generation, and who knows who will next get Fife.

Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is having volunteer training for people willing to help conduct a horseshoe crab survey. Training is on Thursday, April 14, 1:30 to 3 p.m. and Saturday, May 7, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Volunteers become part of a project to collect data on Island horseshoe crab populations. Please call Felix Neck at 508-627-4850.

The United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard will hold Palm Sunday Worship Service at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown on Sunday, April 17, and a Christian Seder supper on Thursday, April 21, in the Baylies Room of the Old Whaling Church.

Donaroma’s now has its pansies and spring flowers. We have some great new Andromeda, and some beautiful evergreen trees. They make you feel great when you look out and see all the spring colors in their glory.

Town meeting is Tuesday night, April 12, at the Whaling Church, and you can vote on Thursday at the town hall. Please remember these are important events for you and our town.

Have a great week, and keep the home candles burning.