Spring time! The temperature has been in the 50s and 60s this week. Forsythia is in full bloom as are the daffodils. A few herring are running at the herring creek. The pinkletinks are announcing the arrival of spring as are the song birds each day, and tour buses have started arriving at the cliffs. Porto Pizza has reopened, as has Martha’s Vineyard Bakery for Back Door Donuts. Chilmark Chocolates will close Saturday until May 4, so stock up on your Easter treats. The scalloping season in Aquinnah has been extended to the end of April.

The Holy Week and Easter Sunday schedule for Community Baptist Church of Gay Head in Aquinnah will include Good Friday services this evening at 7 p.m. Easter Sunday sunrise service will be held on April 16 at 6 a.m. with the theme of People of the First Light. Everyone is welcome. Worship services performed by the Rev. Leo D. Christian.

Spring has sprung with events at Aquinnah Public Library. On Saturday, April 15 the spring egg hunt is at 11 a.m. sharp. Additionally, there will be a bunny ears craft, and decorate your own bag for collecting. On Tuesday, April 18 at 3 p.m. is a printmaking workshop for kids with guest artist Althea Freeman Miller. Seed planting takes place on Thursday, April 20 from 2 to 5 p.m.

The Serving Hands Food Cupboard at First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven will have the once a month food distribution on Friday, April 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. The Food Cupboard schedule is year-round, on the fourth Friday of each month or the week before if it falls near a holiday.

The Island Food Pantry at the Old Stone Church in Vineyard Haven wants everyone to know that they will remain open after their Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule ends on Friday, April 14. They will continue to provide groceries for those in need every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. until three-day service resumes in October. They appreciate everyone continuing to contribute to the Purple Boxes located in libraries, grocery stores and places of worship around the Vineyard. Without donations and those contributions, supplies would be limited.

Swing into spring Saturday night at the fifth annual Shellfish Extravaganza from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. Tickets are $30 per person. Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish will perform. Enjoy the $1 apiece raw bar and look for great deals on the silent auction tables.

The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a candidate forum prior to the town elections. The public is invited to attend and listen to candidates as they present their positions and answer questions from voters. There is a contested race this year, and it should be a lively discussion. Come to the Old town hall at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19.

Out of the Air and In the Soil will be the topic of discussion by Julie Rawson and Jack Kittredge. A discussion of ways to increase soil carbon content in farm fields and gardens, improve productivity and reduce carbon dioxide greenhouse gas will be the subjects of a program at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. It will be held on Friday, April 21, from 7 to 9 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

West Tisbury fifth grade students participated in the annual overnight experience at the Museum of Science in Boston. Those attending from Aquinnah included Lily Duarte, Nahani Hyde, Noah Manning, and Robbie Manning. Two of the 16 chaperones were Jyl Manning and Theresa Manning.

It has been a rather sad two weeks with the loss of long time Vineyarders. Anna Medeiros Duarte died at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on April 1. Her brother George Medeiros died at his Oak Bluffs home on April 7. Nelson Smith died at Massachusetts General Hospital a week ago. Long time Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury resident John Kosboski died in Hawaii, where he had moved just a year ago. They all have left an indelible mark around the Vineyard and will be missed by many.

Happy first anniversary wishes to Keith and Heather Devine on April 9.

Happy eighth anniversary wishes to Durwood and Jamie Sue Vanderhoop on April 17.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Zee Gamsom. Jan Hatchard, Paula Smith, Jill Chandler Woollacott, and Don Sexton celebrated on April 13. Oliver Hughes parties on the 15th. Linda Vadasz, Peyton Jeffers, and Brooks Carroll will celebrate on April 16. Greg Martino parties on April 17. April 18 is a day of celebration for Peter Ives, Josie Iadicicco, Sam White, Curtis Chandler, and Mary Shea. Larry Mollin parties on the 19th. Our beloved Up-Island Council on Aging director Joyce Albertine celebrates on April 21 and shares the day with Lauren Martin, Pam Maine Cavanagh, and James Mahoney.

Happy Easter. There are an abundance of Easter egg hunts across the Vineyard for children of all ages. Have a nice holiday.

Send Aquinnah news to junemanning152@gmail.com.