Sprinkle a little salt over your left shoulder before reading this column for luck. Spring will be here in just one week and that will not be soon enough for many of us. Mother Nature hit us with yet another snowstorm last Thursday. The car wash at the airport Mobil has been doing a land-office business with cars that had many layers of road salt and winter grime on them. Maybe washing the car is a sign that winter is finally over. As the mounds of snow finally melt away, snowdrops were found and nearly ready to bloom at the Betty Knox house, and at Phyllis Meras’s on Music street and Charlie Kernick’s on Edgartown Road. Jen Wool reports that the daffodils on the south side of the Blue Barque are about to burst open.
Bea Whiting reports that the lambing season will begin at the farm soon. Katherine Long will soon be catering to newborn chicks. It is also about time to locate the outdoor barbecue that was carefully put away last fall, and while you’re at it give Jim’s small engine repair a phone call and schedule an appointment to tune up your lawn mower.
Warren and Marilyn Hollingshead of Pond View Farm Road returned home last Wednesday after their annual six-week vacation on Virgin Gorda Island. Warren reports that they had a wonderful time and the weather was wonderful. They are so pleased they missed the hardest part of the winter.
Frank and Celeste Polagruto of Great Plains Road celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary last week. They had dinner cooked for them and they shared it with family and close friends. Frank reports that he received many good wishes directed to them on his Facebook page.
It appears that the annual town election will not have any contested races this year but there will be four override questions: One asks for $300,000 to fund a portion of the Up Island Regional School District assessment in the annual operating budget. Two: asks voters to approve an exemption of an unspecified amount to pay for the bond issued to the Up Island Regional School District in December 2011 for the making repairs to the West Tisbury School. Three: asks another exemption to pay for the bond issued to the County of Dukes County in order to purchase and improve a building to provide health and human services for county residents. And finally, $80,000 to fund this town's share of the school playground and new equipment. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 16.
Aela over at the chamber reports that the annual Martha’s Vineyard Health Fair takes place Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be screenings and exhibits designed to increase awareness about health issues, promote healthy lifestyles and highlight all of the health services and medical programs available on and off-Island. For more information, call the development office at 508-693-4645.
Jane Coakley reports that there will be a reception at the library on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. for the black-and-white photography exhibit of Max Skjoldebrand. The photography will be shown at the library throughout the month of March. Also, David Rhoderick will provide live piano music on the library’s Steinway.
Amy Hoff reports that on Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. the library will host its second Writers Read evening. This event features community members reading short original prose pieces. Both fiction and nonfiction readings are welcome. Each reader is allotted six minutes to read with an optional critique to follow. Sign up to read in advance by calling 508-693-4307 or take a chance and sign up that day. On Thursday, March 19, from 5 to 6 p.m. Dr. Julia Stunkel, Dr. Dana Guyer, and registered nurse Marnie Toole will lead a community discussion on the complexities of vaccination. Come learn more about the issue, express your concerns and ask questions. The discussion is free and open to the public.
Marilyn Miller reports that the Slow Food MV’s annual Farmers’ Brunch will be held on Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Chilmark Community Center. Tickets are available at the door.
Paddy Moore reports that the MV Democratic Council will meet Saturday morning at the Howes House from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
This Friday at 4 p.m. singer/songwriter John O’Toole will perform at the library and will be accompanied by Brian Weiland and other special guests. From current hits to swing standards, Mr. O’Toole performs a wide range of popular music.
On March 17, 1947 the Grange held a St. Patrick’s Day party at the Agricultural Hall. Upstairs was decorated with shamrocks and other green banners. More than 50 members were in attendance and several of the local musicians, including Everett Whiting, Mike and Leonard Athearn, Ernest Correllus and Elmer Silva, gathered to play and sing Irish tunes. George Magnuson sang several Irish solos and he received many standing ovations, and he brought the house down with his rendition of When Irish Eyes are Smiling. A grand time was had by all. Refreshments and Irish mints were served by his wife, Lillian, and Alma Benson.
Happy birthday to Lee McCormick, Talia Segel and Seth Dutton on Friday; Wendy Marzbanian, Nancy Nordin, Elizabeth Kent and Crystal Miske on Saturday; Edmund Cottle, Tammy Hersh, Peter Fisher, Dr. Jay Segel, Jib Ellis and Dwight Kaeka on Sunday; Jennifer Hart, Nelson Tuck, Robyn Bollin and Jemima James on Monday; Estelle Thompson, Molly Scarbough and Bill Wilcox on Tuesday; Chuck Schmidt, Jane Seagrave, Cara Lane, Jake Merrill and Emily Galligan on Wednesday and to Shelley Brown, Nancy Huntington, Ed Swanson, Patrick Jenkinson and Audrey Tilton on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Alix Small and Lisa Lillabridge.
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 on Tuesday. After the traditional dinner of corned beef, cabbage and soda bread be sure to watch the 1944 Oscar winner 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 you’re dead! Happy St. Patrick’s Day everybody.
Send your West Tisbury news to: alleys@vineyard.net.
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