Katie Carroll at your service, taking responsibility for the timely and accurate sharing of newsy-goodness for the town of Chilmark. You’re only saddled with me for a couple of weeks so please, please bear with me.

Let’s start this week off right with a few birthday shout outs. We have two, yes two, babes in town who have recently reached the one year marker. That delightful little girl who dazzled us with her lobster costume at Halloween and her hand-knit poncho and beret at the town Christmas party, Nell Thompson, daughter of Zoe (Pechter) and Simon, celebrated with a kitty cat cake made by Elizabeth Cecil. Latham Kurth, one of our newest Middle Road residents and son to Katy (Maciel) and Ryan, also celebrated his first. He was surrounded by a whole lot of family love, especially from his aunt Krissy Kurth.

Speaking of Krissy, her former Chilmark School classmate Sloane Hart has been sharing some “blast from the past” pictures of their era at the Chilmark School some 30-something years ago. What memories she has brought forward for the now 40-something crowd. Alicia (Fenner) Knight, Elizabeth (Seward) Oliver, Chris Carroll, Josh Scott, Christian Parker and so many more have been given an opportunity to reconnect. I’d call this perfect February fun.

Back to birthdays, if you see Emmett Carroll, John Larsen, Emily Bramhall, Lindsey Scott, or Hellie Neumann out and about be sure to wish them a happy day as they have all celebrated this first week of February. To those of you I may have missed, I hope your day to blow out candles was filled with love and joy.

Emmett and John share their day with the annual viewing of Punxsutawney Phil who, apparently, did not see his shadow this year atop Gobbler’s Knob. Take your jackets off and put away those woolies. We have an early spring headed our way.

Chas Hollinger, who is studying for his master’s degree in fine arts at Western Connecticut State University, has announced the date of his thesis exhibition. If you find yourself in The Big Apple on June 23 be sure to stop by The Blue Mountain Gallery at 530 W. 25th street and check out his amazing work. You can find him on Instagram and Facebook, too.

Congratulations to high school freshman and Vineyard Youth Tennis player Kelly Klaren. She took home the win in the girls 14 under level 6 tournament in Riverside, R.I. this past weekend. Kelly’s talent led her to defeat the top three seeds in the tournament. Kelly is the daughter of Kim and Jonathan.

I’d like to extend my condolences to the family of Dr. Arthur Obermayer, a long time Chilmark seasonal resident, after his passing on Jan. 10. He and his wife, Judith, had recently been inducted into the Small Business Innovation Research Hall of Fame at the White House. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to WBUR and the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center.

Sesame Street, fondly nicknamed Bertie, has finally returned to his rightful home at Bliss Pond Farm. After sustaining a severe leg injury in June 2015 the thoroughbred paint spent seven months healing under the extraordinary care of the vets at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton. Julie Flanders scooted off-Island last Saturday to bring the “hargy-bargy” big guy home (to use a term her father the late David Flanders would have used). He is happily turned out in a paddock where he can reacquaint with pals Ray, Tupper and Minnie Whinnie.

This Saturday, The Yard will give you an opportunity to dance away the winter blues with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish at the community center starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $10 apiece for this opportunity to get out on the town and support The Yard.

In Chilmark School news, the fifth grade students return Friday from their annual adventure to Carrabassett Valley, Me. Swooshing and snowplowing their way down Sugarloaf Mountain were Elliott Berz, Christian Carroll, Ella Keene, Jack Lionette, Clyde Smith, Cali Giglio, Jakie Glasgow, Declan McCarthy, Vivian Peak, Gordon Prescott and Henry Redfield. This trip is one of the highlights of the Chilmark School’s outing program. We all know learning has no limits and education can certainly be found outside the classroom. The students were joined by teachers Becky Barca-Tinus and Janice Brown and parent chaperones Hillary Noyes-Keene, Christine Redfield, Eric Glasgow, Robert Lionette, Lauren Giglio, George Berz and Jed Smith. What a fabulous trip that encompasses everything from skiing to school work, friendship to teamwork, and an overall well-rounded life experience. How lucky they are to live it. How lucky we are as a community to give them the ability.

Also in Chilmark School news, be sure to save the date for the Outing Program/PTO big fundraiser at the CCC. March 26 is the day you’ll be enticed by great auction items and you’ll want to kick up your heels to the sounds of Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish. Updates and more news will follow.

In Menemsha news, the dredge work has come to halt as the deadline request for work was not granted. Things are, for the time being, quiet again in the pond. Word has it, they’ll likely return in October to pick up where they left off.

Lev Wlodyka, one of the locals on the crew, headed out on a much-needed family long weekend. Jay Peak was his destination along with very excited son Westley and patient wife Jen. I hope the slopes and the Pump House water park met all of their expectations — not to mention the long overdue family time.

Finance committee members Adam Bettencourt, Marshall Carroll, Vicki Divoll, Bruce Golden, Linda Maida, Jim Malkin and Susan Murphy have been meeting tirelessly with the selectmen these past few weeks since, yes, it’s town budgeting season. Don’t forget, if you’re up for reelection or feeling the need to run for a seat on a town board, nomination papers are due back to our town clerk Jenny Christy by March 9.

Send Chilmark news to squidrow@vineyard.net.