Chilmark should burst into bloom this week after the soaking rains of the last few days. Many daffodils are already in full bloom with buds showing promise. Seems early but I can never remember from year to year what blooms when! I just know we are always eager to have spring arrive.

And here is a story of spring cleaning. The Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank Chilmark branch is housed in the tavern building in Chilmark center. It has taken several weeks but the job is now complete…21 skunks have been removed from under the bank and transported to some other part of our Island. No skunks were killed in this event. The employees of the bank and sometimes the patrons have been unpleasantly aware of their presence for some time. However, both employees and patrons can now look forward to a move to a new location. The bank will move into the building across from the Chilmark Community Center and officially opens on April 4. The Chilmark branch will be closed on March 31 and April 1 while the move is completed. Good luck to all!

Things are picking up at the Chilmark library with the visit this Saturday by the mouse from Laura Numerof’s book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. The storybook character will visit on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. during Kristin’s weekly Stories and Songs hour. The visit is sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Library Association.

The annual Chilmark School’s children’s art show is hanging in the library meeting room for the months of March and April. It is, as always, a must see show with a lot of talent on display.

The library also is hosting the French conversation group meeting on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. All levels of proficiency are welcome and French refreshments are offered…all free of charge to all.

The Vineyard Conservation Society has named the winners of the third annual high school art competition with the theme Waste – Reduce and Recycle to Preserve and Protect. Adelaide Keene of Chilmark has been named one of the winners who will be honored at an awards ceremony this weekend at the Chilmark School at 5:30 p.m. The artwork will be displayed in the Chilmark library on Saturday the 19th from noon on.

Congratulations to Jesse Burton, who graduated from the Plymouth Police Academy on March 11. Chilmark police Chief Brian Cioffi, Sgt. Jonathan Klaren and Aquinnah police Chief Randhi Belain all traveled to Plymouth to attend the graduation. Jesse is the son of Sue Burton of Chilmark. Cheers from us all!

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission will conduct a public hearing about the Squibnocket project at the community center on March 24 at 6 p.m.

The Parent Teachers Organization of the Chilmark School will hold their annual fundraiser on March 26 at the Chilmark Community Center. Music and dancing to Johnny Hoy along with food, raffles, silent auctions and more will be offered. All funds raised go to the many events outside of the school that the PTO makes possible.

Solon Oliver, son of Kevin and Elizabeth of Chilmark, is an eighth grader at the West Tisbury School. He is this year’s Chilmark Service Ambassador for Project 351, a youth service organization that has one eighth grader from every city and town in Massachusetts to “unite, act and lead” with service throughout the year.

Solon is leading a clothing drive for his Spring Service to benefit Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit organization that provides low income and homeless children with everyday essentials. Solon will be collecting gently used and like-new clothing and shoes for children from March 28 through April 4. There will be clearly marked collection bins in the front lobby of the West Tisbury School. Please call Liz Oliver at 508-939-0616 for more information.

The Chilmark Church will mark Good Friday with service at the Chilmark Community Church from 5 to 5:45 p.m. on March 25. Easter Sunday service will be at 9 a.m. with special music and the annual egg hunt for children after the service. There will be Sunday school as usual on that Sunday.

For those of you who may be in the Washington D.C. area, you might enjoy a visit to the Addison Ripley Fine Art Gallery at 1670 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., where Carol Brown Goldberg is displaying some colorful new art, recent paintings and drawings in a show called Extravagant Edens. Carol is a summer resident of many years to Chilmark and well-known for her outstanding art. Her work will be on display until April 14.

The Tri Town Ambulance crew is looking for a full-time EMT-Paramedic. Please go to the town of Chilmark website and find details under News and Announcements or call town hall.

Well, no room for Melbourne stories this week. I will tell you that Woolworths is a grocery chain and Subway is a sandwich shop and, of course, there is no escaping McDonald’s. But not much else seems that familiar. I did see lobsters for sale at $88 a pound…really.

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.