I hate to admit it but Jeff Petre was correct. No, I did not put away my winter coat as he warned me not to. I took it to the dry cleaners. The rest, as they say, is recent history. I froze all weekend and into the week. What is this all about? I have made myself a promise that I shall not walk outside of any house I live in, in any state or country, unless it is 75 degrees or more. If you think I can’t enforce this, just watch me.

Ellen O’Brien and Tommy Spiconardi are sending me green, healthy vegetable pictures of their sprouting crops. They shame me every day. I haven’t even begun. And now don’t I wish I had paid better attention to my farmer friend, Teri, as she raised the flowers and crops that came to my table. When all else fails, read the instructions.

David Gray came to the Island as an 11-year-old boy in 1962. He took every art class he possibly could during his schooling here. He is still studying at Featherstone for the Arts. This most accomplished painter has an exhibit this month at our Vineyard Haven Public Library, Art in the Stacks section. Most of his themes are Island marine and landscapes. There is something so delicate yet definitive about water color. Visit the library during regular hours and enjoy David’s work on the walls. This exhibit changes monthly. If you would like to be considered for a show call 508-696-4210. The Friends of the Library sponsor this rotating gallery. If you didn’t know, famous Island painter Captain John Ivory has 12 of his works permanently on display there.

Big doings in New York city by our talented Islanders. Nancy Purnell has just completed an exhibit of her paintings at the Ryan’s Daughter event in Manhattan last Saturday night. All who could get there proclaimed it a great success. And actor, writer, director Victoria Campbell screened a documentary she has worked on for four years, Monsieur le President, at 7:30 p.m. last Tuesday night at the IFC in New York city. Parents Dolly and Bruce Campbell of West Chop must be so proud.

Congratulations to Ryan and Sarah Meyer von Bremen on the birth of their second child. Older brother Noah is delighted. Ryan and Sarah welcomed Arwen Rose Meyer to the world on March 31 at the Coral Springs Hospital in Florida. Arwen was born six minutes before midnight. She was 8lbs. 9 oz. And 20 inches long. You all remember Arwen’s Uncle Aaron and Grandma Jill from Cumby’s? Grandpa Fred LaPiana was our head of Tisbury Public Works for years. Congratulations to all.

April is autism awareness month. What family has not been touched by this? It gives me a chance to brag about my nephew Jonathan Gardella who plays viola in the Southwest Florida Youth Orchestra and was on a trip last month with his group to play at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Good work, Buddy!

It is also National Poetry Month. Our Academy of American Poets has held this observance for 20 years. Prepare for Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 21. There are certainly plenty to choose from or just compose one of your own.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Simon Goldberg on April 8; April 9 smiles on Laura Daly, Nick Weyl and April Cimeno; April 10 belongs to Jason Murphy; April 11 is a party for Zachary Atumick, Suzanne Cory-Warren and Jennifer Kuehne; and on April 12 Siobhan Francis, Elmer Silva and Danielle Ewart take the cake. Many happy returns.

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