Chilmark is looking springlike in spite of the temperatures; fields are green and daffodils are blooming.

We send condolences to the many friends and family of Marjorie Good, who died on March 4 at her home in Woodbury, Conn. She was 99. Midge, as she was known to us all, valued her Vineyard hours and spent the summer months at her Menemsha home for most of her long life. Her favorite places were the Menemsha beach where she spent many hours with friends in the sunshine and the Menemsha bulkhead where she often joined the crowds in welcoming home swordfishermen and watching glorious sunsets for many years. Her husband Tom and son Thomas Jr. predeceased her. A graveside service will be held at Abel’s Hill Cemetery at a date to be announced.

The Chilmark Planning Board held a public hearing prior to approving zoning amendments proposed for our vote at the annual town meeting. You may find them at the town clerk’s office if you wish to read them ahead of the town meeting.

The Chilmark School Parent Teacher Organization invites us all to The Fool’s Bash, a fundraiser for the school to be held on April 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. There are many activities planned that include live and silent auctions, the comedian Rafi Gonzalez, the music of Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish. and more. There will be beverages and desserts available. The donation is $20 at the door to support the Chilmark School PTO. All this takes place at the Chilmark Community Center.

Pizza nights begin at the Chilmark Community Church. They were unfortunately cancelled due to the storm last week but will be offered every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at the church and all are welcome.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries held a public hearing on American lobster management on March 23. The American lobster management Board will now review the submitted comments and consider action on the addendum at the commission’s spring meeting in May. For more information, please contact Megan Ware, plan coordinator at mware@asmfc.org

The ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union, is close to its 100th anniversary and with the renewed interest in the work that they do, it seems appropriate for Chilmark to remember and honor the primary founder of the organization, Roger Baldwin, who was a longtime Chilmark homeowner and seasonal resident. He was introduced to Chilmark by the people of Barn House and then bought the Windy Gates property that was his home for many years.

He, his wife, Evelyn Preston, and their daughter, Helen, were all part of the Chilmark summer community and there are many memories of them. Peter Neumann wrote from Los Angeles to say he remembers many times he and his family shared in Chilmark with Roger and his family. In fact, Peter’s daughter, Chilmark resident Helen Neumann, tells us she has just returned from two months in Italy where she enjoyed visiting with Helen’s daughter, Alessandra, in Rome. They connected via Facebook.

Peter Cook of South Road called to tell me his grandmother was a first cousin of Roger’s, thus making Peter a relative. She was Ruth Standish Baldwin.

Roger died at 97 in August of 1981. Many of his Chilmark friends, acquaintances and admirers gathered at the Chilmark Community Center to remember him. Among those who spoke were Michael Straight, Henry Beetle Hough, Leona Baumgartner Langmuir, Albert O. Fischer 3rd, Joseph Lash, Anthony Lewis, Rose Styron, and Margaret Charren. Eululie Regan of the Vineyard Gazette compiled these recollections and tributes in a column in the August 7, 2007 edition of this paper.

Roger Baldwin, Founder of the American Civil Liberties Union, a Portrait by Peggy Lamson is a biography that includes many references to his Martha’s Vineyard life.

I still feel a pride of place knowing that so many distinguished contributors to the 20th century found Chilmark to their liking.

Helen Neumann is back at her Middle Road home after a two-month trip to Italy, where she enjoyed traveling and sightseeing and studying the Italian language. She has returned home where is is announcing her private practice for acupuncture. She will be doing house calls, and working from her home on Dilley Way. The business is called Up Island Wellness and she can be reached at 774-563-8515. Good luck to you, Hellie!

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.