The daffodils are in bloom, pinkletinks in full chorus, deer all over, and rabbits running in circles. Spring has arrived.

Islanders Talk Benevolent Fund would like to invite you to the Kale Soup Throwdown on Sunday, April 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs. Taste the varieties of kale soup and select the best with winners in several categories. Sabrina Luening and the Groovers will entertain with music. Many amazing generous donations from across the Vineyard for the silent auction. Take a chance on the 50/50 raffle or the ticket tree. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child. Fun for the whole family for a worthy cause with proceeds ultimately distributed for Islanders helping Islanders in times of need. For further information, please contact Jessica Burnham at 508-939-1646 or Lori Robinson on the Islanders Talk Facebook page.

This week at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum was an opening of the Mystery Quilt exhibit. The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School History Club, under the guidance of teacher Corinne Kurtz, has been studying the antique quilt donated to the museum by antique dealer Patty Kirwin. In collaboration with the museum, the history club, the Women’s Information Organization, and the MV Modern Quilt Guild have all researched, studied, and made their guestimates on the origin of the quilt signed by 14 Vineyard women in 1890. But, who were they? How did they get together to quilt? Where were they from? These and other questions will be answered by members of the groups.

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services will soon be taking requests for the new Martha’s Vineyard license plate that will be created and issued once there are 1,500 people to sign up for the plate. It will be for automobiles registered in the commonwealth, not for commercial vehicles, motorcycles, nor vanity plates. Each time one renews their plate in the ensuing years, they will pay an additional $40 for the MV plate. A portion of the money will then be returned to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and a portion of the proceeds will assist other non-profit Vineyard organizations during the year. The license plate committee will be busy over the next few months taking names and telephone numbers as well as emails in addition to a check. As soon at the 1,500 number is reached, the plates go into production and will be distributed. Those with summer Vineyard automobiles may wish to have a plate, or those residing elsewhere in the commonwealth are eligible to apply for one. Look for committee members across the Vineyard to sign up.

Thank you to the crew at United States Coast Guard Station Menemsha for the invitation to their ribbon cutting ceremony on April 9 at the new boathouse. There was immense pride and dedication demonstrated during the morning ceremony and I was delighted to see all of the crew in their dress uniforms. Rather impressive. I was also delighted to see former Coast Guardsmen who had served at the Menemsha Station, including Albert Clements, Norman Gardner, Wayne Iacono, and Scott Maccaferri. Reservists were also present, Chris Scott and Kenneth deBettencourt, who has served for the past 41 years. I was disappointed to learn that Robert Decker, Robert Verdone, and Mark Montgomery will be reassigned over the next few months. Chief Robert Riemer assured everyone that the cost of the new boathouse may have been expensive but the life expectancy of the building averages out to less than $2,500 per week for the waterfront property on Martha’s Vineyard. It was a pleasure to meet our United States Representative William Keating as well as the presiding Coast Guard Officer Rear Admiral Linda Fagan.

Max and Cheryl Batzer were at their Lobsterville home over the weekend, returning to Manhattan on Monday. We will look forward to their return in a few weeks.

Condolences to the family and friends of Brianna Combra, daughter of Tekla Silva and the late Russell Combra, who passed away on Sunday following a motor vehicle accident. Brianna is also survived by her uncles John Silva of Tisbury and Thomas Silva of Texas, as well as numerous Combra family members.

Congratulations to Isabella Lumb, daughter of Chip Lumb and Jessica Shafer, upon her acceptance at Boston University where she will be a freshman in the coming school year.

Congratulations to Leigh J. Vanderhoop, the newly appointed Chilmark Postmaster after having worked there for the past 26 years. After discharge from the United States Army, he worked at the Oak Bluffs Post Office for a year and a half. Leigh is a graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, class of 1979 and serves on the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribal Council. He is the son of Madeline Moreis of Tisbury and the late William D. Vanderhoop. His late grandfather Leonard F. Vanderhoop once served as the Postmaster in Gay Head, as did his great-great-grandfather William A. Vanderhoop. Leigh has covered the Chilmark Post Office single-handedly for the past four months and looks forward to having an assistant and to have his weekends off once again to spend time with his wife Christy and their sons Levi and Isaac.

Get well wishes to Jerry Wiener who returned home this week after a brief stay at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is presently being cared for at home by his wife Carolyn Feltz and her sister Janice Feltz Cournoyer.

Congratulations to Jesse Wiener, son of Jerry Wiener and Carolyn Feltz, who returned to Manhattan on Monday after being in Las Vegas for 10 days. Jesse has been working on the musical score for the Duck Commander musical which was a hit on the stage in Las Vegas and opened on Wednesday at the Rio.

Condolences to the family and friends of Margaret Pinto Yates who passed away on April 5 in Falmouth. Many fond childhood memories of Yates Drug Store on Main Street in Tisbury, especially the soda fountain for a sundae, and newborn supplies in 1954.

Happy sixth anniversary wishes to Durwood and Jamie Sue Vanderhoop as they celebrate on April 17.

Happy Birthday wishes to Greg Martino today. April 18 is a day of celebration for Josie Iadicicco, Sam White, Curtis Chandler, Peter Ives, and Mary Caitlin Shea. Kim Burke, Prudy Magee and Larry Mollin share the day on April 19.

Our dear UPIS LAND Council on Aging Director Joyce Bowker celebrates her special day on April 21. Lauren Martin and James Mahoney celebrate on April 21. Tim Laursen parties on the 22nd and shares the day with Clovis Smith who will be four years old. Denys Wortman and Tom Rabbitt share the day on April 23.

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