The record book on March closes Friday and it has been one of the colder months on record. The weekend was about 10 degrees colder than the previous week and the month was like a lion with cold, snow, wet and very windy weather.

Spring may have finally arrived and along with it the lambing season. The Mill Pond has been stocked with trout and kids are fishing there each day. Stores have started to aggressively merchandise Easter baskets. The congregational church enters the final month of Wednesday night suppers for this season. Remember Saturday is April Fool’s Day so beware of practical jokes.

Tara Whiting, town clerk, wants to remind you that if you will not be available to vote in person at the annual election on April 13 you can vote via an absentee ballot at the town hall until noontime on Wednesday.

The annual town meeting warrant this year contains 39 articles, all of them recommended by the finance committee. There will be two contests on this year’s election ballot. Kent Healy is running against incumbent selectman Richard Knabel. Also Elaine Barrett, Robert Hauck and Wendy Nierenberg are running for two seats on the board of library trustees and John Powers is running for constable and Mary (Binnie) Ravitch for land bank vommissioner. Two questions will also be facing voters.

Olivia Larsen, over at the library, reports that Saturday from 4 to 5 p.m., there will be a reception honoring the artwork of the late Tom Cocroft, well respected artist. This art exhibition is presented by his wife, Phyllis Meras. Refreshments will be served. Tom’s drawings will be displayed in the community room throughout the month of April. On Sunday at 3 p.m. David Murphy will give a presentation, in honor of his father, Island artist, Stan Murphy. David will show approximately 400 slides that convey his father’s artistic development and offer a glimpse of how parts of the Island looked years ago.

On April 24, 1973 Pat Jenkinson, co-owner of Up-Island Automotive along with Daniel Whiting, received severe burns to his body when sparks from a welding torch ignited a can of cleaning fluid which then exploded while he was working in the garage. Police Chief George Manter transported him to the hospital and he was immediately transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital for further treatment. It was learned in a day or so that Pat would need blood transfusions and the West Tisbury Fire Department, John Alley Lieutenant, aided in arranging for a special visit of the Red Cross Bloodmobile. Thirty-five people registered to donate blood in less than a week.

Happy Birthday to: Nancy Cole, Mary Keenan, Carl Van Rooyen, and Emily Cohan Friday; Alison Barrett, Linda Fischer, Mickey Stone, Bob Woodruff, and Paige and Claudia Taylor Saturday; John Stanwood, Silas Andrews, and Nancy Brennan on Sunday; Stacey Gouldrup, Rise Terney and Wyatt Jenkinson on Monday; Marlene DiStefano, John Hoff, Deborah Mayhew and Andrew Worlock on Tuesday; Lauri McAuliffe, Chuck Hodgkinson Susan Britt, Kari Scott, Micheline Sonia, Joe Van Ness and Phil Spaulding on Wednesday; and Catherine Salop, Alexander Karalekas, Hans Van Nes and Joan Thomas on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Emily Gadd, Janice Goldiklang, Doris Clark, and Kaitlyn Hart.

Well that is all of the social news for this edition. Please call or e-mail me with news you wish to share. Have a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.