With a chorus of pinkletinks, the burst of color by the forsythia and daffodils, osprey aeronautical shows and the smell of burning brush, you can nearly proclaim that spring is here. But what really seals the deal for me is when the Menemsha Water Company opens those valves and there is once again water flowing down at the crick. The flow of fresh water prompts the Larsen sisters, Betsy and Christine, to crack open the doors at the fish market, give things a dustoff from a winters slumber and prepare for summertime customers.

Another sign of spring is Vineyard Conservation Society’s annual Earth Day clean up. Saturday April 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. Not only are Lucy Vincent and Menemsha beaches on the list to be tidied, but with the help of shellfish constable Isaiah Scheffer, the shores of Menemsha Pond have made the list. Isaiah will provide life jackets and shuttle folks who are appropriately prepared with enough agility to traverse a high-sided boat and wearing boots. He will ferry folks from Dutcher Dock in front of the Texaco, so if you are interested in a slightly more adventurous version of Earth Day cleanup, be sure to meet him there.

April migration brought Jon and Marie Scott to town. They took a cruise around town and were astonished by the magnitude of the storm damage visible on North Road. After assessing the storm damage at their home on South Road, they plotted a spring cleanup plan with Sally and Peter Cook.

Meanwhile, more family visits to the Scott compound included Sally and Peter Cook`s daughter, Liz Cook, and her friend John Lenthall, of Roslindale. They were in town to celebrate Peter`s birthday. Liz is a literacy specialist in the Brookline schools. Sally, while not busy cooking, reminds Chilmark residents of the need for a write-in candidate for the Chilmark cemetery commission at the annual town election on Wednesday, April 25. Give a shout to the folks at the town hall if you are curious about what the position entails.

We also must be reminded to write in Julianna M. Flanders for fence viewer. Julie is a third generation fence viewer following in the footsteps of her father, David, and grandfather Oscar before that. Julie has held the position since 2009, but overlooked the need to take out nomination papers for reelection.

Just in time for town meeting on Monday April 23 Judy and Ted Mayhew and Kathie and Emmett Carroll have all returned to town from a winter adventure in the Florida Keys. I’ve already spotted Ted out doing yard clean up and Emmett has taken his golf cart for a spin to blow the cobwebs out.

Elise Hillman Green traveled to town for a quick visit to tend to a few needs at her Middle Road home. Secretly I think it was just an excuse to spend a night catching up with her dear friend, Julie Flanders. I was lucky enough to have a hug and a quick catchup too.

John Jacobs has returned to his Menemsha home from his home in Colorado, enjoying the hum of a newly installed furnace. With the more frequent sightings of the sun perhaps he will be able to dial it down and open the windows for some warm and fresh salt air.

The smell of salt air was strong the day the Unicorn came to the dock with what would be its last harpooned swordfish. Shortly after that day, Capt. Gregory Mayhew fell ill, but with his immeasurable strength and undaunted positivity managed to live life with his ear-to-ear smile until April 11. Greg was a phenomenal life force who somehow managed to hold court no matter who his audience was. Folks would gather when he spoke, and occasionally forget they had left their car running in the parking lot, perhaps with ice cream melting on seat, because Greg’s stories of fishing, family and traditions would captivate anyone who would listen. Somehow Greg had a way of making time stand still and he will be missed. Celebrate his life at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs. Please join his family at a reception that will follow at the adjacent parish house.

Send Chilmark news to squidrow@vineyard.net.