Spring is just a matter of just weeks away. The temperatures have been in the 40s and 50s for most of the week. No snow, no ice, no wind. The crocuses are blooming. A great relief from our winter of a year ago.

Congratulations to all of my colleagues at the Vineyard Gazette for their New England Newspaper and Press Association Awards over the weekend. I am especially grateful for the understanding and very succinct reporting by John H. Kennedy of the casino “caper” as many of us in Aquinnah refer to the issue. Thank you John.

Thursday at Aquinnah Public Library there will be penguin making out of paper and cotton balls. On Saturday, Feb. 27, there will be story time at 10:30 a.m. and from 11 until 3 there will be kids’ craft time with the making of elephants out of paper tubes. The movie Brooklyn will be shown on Tuesday, March 1 at 5 p.m.

Linda Coombs would like to remind everyone that the Aquinnah Cultural Center will host the first annual Winter Fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. Venison stew, quahaug chowder and cornbread will be served. There will be a jewelry and art raffle, as well as art for sale. There will be cultural presentations. Black Brook singers will provide drums and song, and elders will speak about growing up in such a unique and beautiful place. Tickets are $20 at the door.

Peter Temple reminds everyone of the final visioning session for Aquinnah Circle on Wednesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at the town hall. There is a survey you can complete on the town website. Mariko McNamara and Ryan Corrigan, graduate students from the Conway School, have interviewed residents and had facilitated the first session earlier this month.

Welcome to Phillip S. Wallis, the new executive director at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. Mr. Wallis was welcomed by board members on Feb. 17. Following the board meeting, staff joined in the reception catered by Tina Miller of Rosewater. Board members and staff were split into two teams to try their knowledge on various histories, i.e. Vineyard history, museum history, and American history. Ann DuCharme’s team won, by a mere $100, so the losing team lead by Dan Waters will be donating their intended losses to the museum. It was a great ice breaker for all to enjoy.

Tuesday March 1 is Super Tuesday. Please exercise your right to vote. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport.

Alison Cohen Levy is the new administrative assistant at the museum. Alison and her husband Ed Levy are spending their first winter at their family home in Aquinnah.

Wendy Nasberg returned to her home in New Hampshire on Tuesday after spending a few days with her mother Betty Joslow. Betty and Nancy hosted dinner on Sunday evening with guests Marjorie Spitz and yours truly.

Dawn Widdiss returned to her home in Framingham on Sunday after being at her family home on Howwosswee Way for the weekend and attending the tribal meeting on Sunday.

Condolences to family and friends of Kathy Chesk who passed away at Bourne Manor Nursing Home. Kathy was associated with the Oak Bluffs Personnel Board for several years during my 10 years on the board. Of course we always kept the meetings lively. She was also a dear friend of Barbara Gentry and Joan Gentry Patada. She will be missed by many.

Condolences to the family and friends of our eldest Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal member Hazel Lavinia Randolph Haskins, who passed away in Maryland. She was 103. Hazel was the daughter of the late John Randolph and Elsie Briscoe. She was born and raised at her family home in Oak Bluffs. She was the former spouse of Delmar Haskins, an Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal member as well. She had resided off-Island for most of her adult life and her sister Mildred had looked forward to Hazel moving to Aquinnah to be with her but those wishes never materialized. Hazel is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families. In her final years, her nieces Charity Randolph, Arenda Randolph Maxwell, and Audrey Jeffers-Mayhew were her overseers. A full obituary will appear in the Gazette at a later date.

Condolences to the family and friends of Agnes Blankenship Luce who passed away at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on Jan. 31. It was always a delight to see her, especially with one of her sons by her side.

Happy 40th anniversary wishes to Kenneth Belain Jr. and his bride Janet Rose Crane aka Roe, as they celebrate on Feb. 28.

Happy 47th anniversary wishes to Al Perry and Madeline Cookie Gazaille on March 1.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Barbara Perry Francis who will observe a major milestone on Saturday; our eldest resident Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal member. Troy Vanderhoop Jr. will be 16 years old on the 27th and shares the day with Robert Iadicicco. My eldest great-grandchild James I. Millman will become a teenager on Feb. 28. Dora Morrow and Krystal Rose Schaeffer will also celebrate on the 28th. Remy Tumin, formerly of the Gazette and now with The New York Times, will celebrate Sadie Hawkins Day on the 29th — watch out gentlemen!

Cameron Widdiss will be 15 on March 1. Heather Ferreira parties on March 2. Jan Wightman and Kathy Noble Case share the day on March 3. My daughter Sharon Spiller celebrates on March 4 and shares the day with Robert Rosenberg.

Send Aquinnah news to junemanning152@gmail.com.