Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. So some mice die and go up to heaven. After about a week God comes by and asks them how they like heaven. The mice say that they love it, but it’s such a big place that they are tired from all of the walking. So God fixes the mice up with tiny roller skates. Then some cats die and go up to heaven. After about a week God comes by to ask them how they like heaven. The cats say they love it, especially the meals on wheels program.

But seriously, the Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors on Chappy. You would pick up the meal on the Chappy side between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Meals are delivered Monday through Friday. Mileage reimbursement is available. Seasonal and substitute drivers are needed and welcome. Call Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands at 508-693-4393, extension 192. Ask for Michele Dupon.

The Chappy Community Center will again be hosting the Spring Egg Hunt. Liz Villard has been masterminding this event for as long as we can remember. The hunt starts promptly at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. Be on time as the hunting takes mere minutes. If only that enthusiasm could be harnessed for household chores and homework! Stick around after for tea and cookies. Call the CCC at 508-627-8222 if you have questions.

The CCC is looking to fill the following positions for this summer season; head sailing instructor, two sailing assistants, and an office assistant. Call 508-627-8222 or email chappycc@verizon.net.

Be thinking about photos for the 2017 CCC calendar. The contest is in July which is really just around the corner. We are always looking for new advertisers to be prepared if a space opens up.

The Trustees of Reservations are looking to fill two positions for high school internships for the coming summer. These are eight-week paid internships of two days per week from July 5 through August 26 focused on in-depth learning and leadership for high school juniors and seniors interested in outdoor environmental work. Contact TTOR Island educator Molly Peach at mpeach@ttor.org. Apply by April 15.

The barrier beach at Wasque has built up to a very healthy height and width. The few wheel tracks that are there now are shallow and the driving surface is at least three vehicles wide. Hopefully the beach will continue to strengthen so that folks can go by the beach to town during in April when the Chappy Ferry will be carrying only passengers.

During the next six weeks I will continue to remind you about the ferry slip repairs scheduled for the school vacation week in April. For eight days the ferry will only carry passengers. The loading ramp on the Chappy side must be removed to remove the old disintegrating wooden bulkheads and replace them with durable modern materials. While the ramp is removed vehicles won’t be able to get on and off of the ferry on the Chappy side. The ramp will be removed first thing in the morning on Sunday April 17 and will be back in place by Sunday, April 24 at 6 p.m. Passengers will be carried during the entire time. Bicycles, carts, baby buggies and wheelchairs will be accommodated.

During that week you can park a car in town without getting a parking ticket as long as it is a legal space. The time limits will be disregarded. You can drive the beach to town without OSV permits as long as you follow all of the TTOR rules, such as letting your tire pressure down to 12 to 15 psi.

Read the full notice on either the Chappy ferry website or Facebook page. We picked this week specifically because it is school vacation. This is historically a very quiet week for the Chappy ferry and the Vineyard in general. This may be inconvenient for those coming from off-Island but this is a time when the fewest number of ferry patrons will be affected. 
If you are coming from off-Island, you have all Saturday, April 16 to get to the island and do a week’s worth of shopping. For heading home to the mainland, get a ticket on the big ferry for the 8:30 or 9:30 p.m. boat on April 24. It’s a valid excuse to stay the entire week.

Send Chappy news to peter@chappyferry.net.