Some think the first sign of spring on Martha’s Vineyard is the sighting of the first snow drops. Others observe the beginning of spring by turning on the outdoor shower. My own personal harbinger of spring came mid-last week. I removed the first tick from my head.

But a much more pleasant sign of spring begins Friday, May 18 at Grace Church. The famous Friday lobster rolls are back! The menu is extended. Come meet your friends and pick up your meals from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bittersweet time of year for me. Nonna died on May 10 in 2016. I buried her on her birthday, May 18. She would have been 101 this Friday. I miss her so.

I am also going to miss author/journalist Tom Wolfe who passed on May 15. What a wordsmith! Talkin ‘bout my generation! Be sure to read the lovely words Cynthia McFadden had to say about Tom.

The Marion Cardoza 97th birthday party at the VFW was a great success. As you all know, Marion somehow had advanced knowledge of her surprise party at 4 p.m. last Saturday. That did not stop Marion or any celebrants from having fun. Same time, next year.

May 26 is our March for Heroes event. Please join us if you can. Posters are up all over town.

Change your calendars, the planned electronics disposal day on our MVCS campus has been postponed due to dreary, drippy weather reports for May 19. The new date is same place, same time, 9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, June 2. I’ll see you there.

As far as I know, the first hazmat collection of this year will still be held at the Edgartown Refuse district on the West Tisbury road on May 19. So you may still make an environmentally safe trip on Saturday.

I repeat, all prom ticket holders get free rides on prom night in a special program put together by our high school kids and Your Taxi. That is a great relief. Have fun on Saturday.

News from our radio station, WMVY: Former DJ Peter Sawyer, now living and working in Taiwan, and our famous photographer, Michael Blanchard, a substance abuse counselor, will broadcast a show they have both worked on. The subject is depression, OCD, and substance abuse. The show actually streamed Monday night on mvyradio. You may catch the second airing of these important subjects at 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. Later in the season Peter will be broadcasting some of the great songs from his former Oldies Night shows. Stay tuned.

I was unable to attend the Steamship Authority meeting at the high school last Tuesday. I have heard that approximately 200 people were there. Looks like we are seeking an independent review board to go over the recent spate of problems. I hope we can all work together on this.

We offer heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of Jack Reed. He was a stellar human being. Sympathy also goes out to the family and friends of architect Ben Moore. And our hearts are with the family and friends of David Darcy. May they rest in peace.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along my dear friend Lowely Finnerty on Monday, May 14. Her darling kids, Noel and Tanita Macy, along with friends and family members, enjoyed a fine meal at Jimmy Seas. Lowely so happens to share her birth date with Rob Gronkowski. I did not hear that Gronk made it to Jimmy Seas for the party. Jude Byrd, son of Ashley Willoughby Byrd and Sam Byrd of San Marco, Tex., turned three on May 16. Ashley culled together a lot of new recipes for the party she had last weekend. I am hoping to meet Jude in person when he visits his grandparents and great-grandparents on Island this summer. You know, the Cimenos and Willoughbys.

There is one Nonna in my life who takes the cake. Iole Jannace Gardella, born May 18, 1917. Roses to heaven.

Send Vineyard haven news to iklean@yahoo.com.