An interesting take on the screed I wrote last week about not taking messages, phone calls, postcards, and such from people visiting down south; we received a postcard midweek from my delightful cousins, Charles and Carol Carillo. It was a beautiful postcard showing lots of aquatic wonders, no orange groves. It is from their recent trip to Iceland, of all places. Waterfalls, geysers, all kinds of beauty, and no snow. They write that it is 40 degrees in Reykjavik, and they will have to go to New England to see snow. Go figure.

I am sure we all parsed the jokes, the dresses, the performances, the attitudes, and the acceptance speeches for last Sunday’s Oscars. Nonna’s favorite comment on the couture is “Didn’t they have enough money to pay for the other sleeve of the dress?” or “Why did she bother to put anything on?” But a real tasteful dresser and class act is Julianne Moore. I have always enjoyed following her movies and progress. Richard Paradise is screening her Oscar winning role, Still Alice, Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society at the Tisbury Marketplace. There will be another viewing of this very popular and very relevant movie on Sunday, March 1, at the same theatre.

Join your host Jamie Alley on the Patricia Neal Stage at the renovated Vineyard Playhouse on Monday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. Five dollars cash at the door gets you in to see one of the classics of all time, Valley of the Dolls. This screening has been postponed from an earlier date.

It is a great time of year for films. Betty Burton invites you to the program room at our local library at 7 p.m. Tuesday night for a showing of Birdman. It won the Oscar in the best picture category. Betty provides the popcorn. The movie is free.

I have forgotten to notify you that February is Food for Fines month at our Vineyard Haven Public Library. Bring in canned goods or healthy nonperishable items, return your late materials, and you will be forgiven.

If you prefer poetry to cinema, join our Island poet laureate Arnie Riesman at the Vineyard Playhouse on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. Arnie will facilitate a reading by some of your favorite local poets, Judith Neeld, Laura Roosevelt and Don McLagan. Again, this is a winter event that had been postponed from an earlier date because of our wonderful weather.

Now, a word about Laura Roosevelt, whom I have never met. I have admired her works of art for years in our beautiful gallery on our hospital walls. Are you telling me she’s a poet too? Come on, Laura, share the talent.

How can it be March already? How can it be Purim already, to be celebrated at our Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center next Wednesday, March 3? The children start out at 4 p.m. for games, songs, prizes, and more. The Purim Spiel, Megillah reading begins at 5:15 p.m. Josh Aronie will have his Purim food truck on the premises for you to purchase a wonderful dinner. Macaroni and cheese, falafel, and other vegetarian delights are on the menu. Someone, please, take pictures of the children and send them to me.

As Teri, Nonna and I are pretty much homebound because of the weather and the snow and ice nightmare out there, we have had to come up with creative ideas to get through cabin fever. A very big and special shout-out goes to Chilmark Chocolates and its fine staff. Teri had the foresight to pack a few pounds of her favorite dark chocolate and bring it with us. It is now being used for hot fudge sauce, brownies, cakes, you get the idea. I suggest you hurry up there when the roads are passable and buy yourselves a little diversion.

Continued get well wishes to Neil Welch. I hear he is in rehab somewhere near Plymouth. I’m sure his sister Diane can help you with his address and an update. Stay warm, Neil!

Belated birthday greetings to my very good friend Sharon Simonin. Sharon celebrated on Feb. 25.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Ryann Gold, George Giasmas and Rafaela Souza Friday. I’m wishing happy birthday to Fella Cecilio and Sam Alley Saturday because I cannot congratulate them on their true birthdate this year, which is Feb. 29. March 1 is shared by Nichole Daly and Maura Dickson. March 2 is a party for Allyson Alfano, Leide DePaula, Athena Verna Parker and Emily Bevis Rives. March 3 honors Aaron LaPiana, I expect the gang at Cumby’s to send him long-distance wishes. March 4 shines on Sean George, Justin Eli and Michael Baptiste. And on March 5, Glenn Andrews, Marguerite Hegarty and Wendy Andrews take the cake. Many happy returns.