JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Spring will be here in a mere four days! It sure felt like it on Monday; the high temperature was a delightful 61 degrees. The weekend weather was swell, even if it was a bit windy. People are slowly adjusting to Daylight Saving Time. The snowdrops are in full bloom at the Betty Knox house and at Phyllis Meras’s Music street house, as well as in other yards around town. Susan Block, on the same street, reports that she spotted perhaps the first mayflower of the season on Tuesday; snowdrops are blooming and daffodils about to burst open in several yards around town.
The lambing season has begun and Eleanor Stanwood reports new lambs at her farm. Katherine Long has newborn chicks. It is also about time to locate the outdoor barbecue that was carefully put away in the barn last fall. While you’re at it, give Jim Gaffney a phone call so he can schedule an appointment to tune up your lawn mower.
Warren and Marilyn Hollinshead, of Pond View Farm Road, returned home on Friday after their annual six-week vacation to Punta Gorda. Warren reports that they had a great time and the weather was wonderful.
Tom Hodgson, of Tiasquam Road, proudly reports that his daughter, Darcy, gave birth to a baby boy at the hospital on Wednesday. His name is Griffin McQuillin Neago. Darcy and Griffin’s dad, Jason, live at 60 Tiasquam Road. Griffin joins his big brother, Tristan. Congratulations!
Dorothy Bangs reports that the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days are just around the corner! Volunteers will be delivering pre-paid flowers on Tuesday, March 20. Bouquets will also be for sale that afternoon at the Edgartown Stop & Shop, Tony’s Market in Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven Cronig’s. The hospital will have them for sale on Wednesday morning. Each bouquet costs $10. Money collected will be used to fund research to search for a cure, and to help provide support for individuals who are battling this awful illness. In advance we want to thank you for your continuing support.
Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports that Wednesday, March 21 is the last day to add your name to those who can vote at the annual town meeting. The office will be open until 5 p.m. The town meeting warrant is available online or feel free to stop by town hall and pick one up. Friday, March 23 is the last day to register for the annual town election, held April 12. The clerk’s office will be open until 8 p.m. on March 23. Any questions, please call 508-696-0148. There are no contested races this year, but there are four important ballot questions.
The annual town meeting warrant was released this week and contains 41 articles. Two of them were submitted by petition. Some of the items up for vote: allowing dogs on Lambert’s Cove Beach, library funding, Mill Pond dredging and the sale of beer and wine at one-day events.
Jen Rand reports that the board of selectmen will be discus beer and wine regulations at their meeting on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the town hall.
Ann Billings and David Thompson were married at the Congregational Church last Friday.
Marjory and Robert Potts, of Elias Lane, are celebrating the 12th year of publishing the Broadside, a two-page weekly chronicling life in town.
Sunday Smith reports that, thanks to a grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, the Farm Institute is making one-acre farm plots available to Vineyarders interested in trying new crops or new growing processes. Water, tillable ground and assistance with planning and expenses will be available. Download the application at farminstitute.org. If you need more information call Jon Previant at 508-627-7007.
Jennifer, over at the library, reports that on Wednesday, March 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. and on March 21 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Emma N. Young will lead a two-part bookmaking workshop for teens. Participants are welcome to take one or both workshops. Each workshop is limited to five participants. Also check out the artwork on display by Willie Huntington; it will be up until the end of the month. The library will be screening mysteries on Mondays at 7 p.m. for the remainder of the month. On Monday, March 19 you will have an opportunity to watch one of my favorites, released in 1941, the Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre.
Happy birthday to: Robyn Bollin, Geraldine Roddy and Jemima James today; Maureen Hitchings, Patricia Sheehan, Richard Leonard and Bill Wilcox tomorrow; Bob Douglas, Patricia McCarthy, Jake Merrill, Emily Walsh and Chuck Schmidt on Sunday; Patrick Jenkinson, Shelly Brown and Joanne Roddy on Monday; John Bartkus, Arthur Eakin, Linda Hughes, Betsy Macdonald and Maria Moody on Tuesday; Jon Nelson, Heather Rynd, Nora Winsryg and Julie Robinson on Wednesday; Beth McElhiney, Lori Metell and Christina Shropshire on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Richard Skidmore and Mike Stutz.
Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. Please call or email me with your news. I trust you will not forget to wear something green tomorrow. After the traditional dinner of corned beef, cabbage and soda bread be sure and watch the 1944 Oscar-award winning film Going My Way with Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. I would like to close this week’s column with an old Irish blessing: “May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows your dead”! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody.
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