Still a little chill in the air in Aquinnah, with temperatures in the 20s and warming to the 40s with the daily dose of sunshine. A few different sounds in the neighborhood, perhaps the beautiful ring necked pheasant residing next door. The daffodils are just about ready to bloom.

The Martha’s Vineyard Neighborhood convention will meet on Tuesday, April 2 at 11 a.m. at the Grace Episcopal Church in Tisbury. Margaret Mayhew Penicaud will present the Haiti Fish Farm Project.

Paul, Theresa and Noah Manning returned home on Saturday after an adventurous two weeks. They first landed in Frankfurt, Germany then drove to Rome for a visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica with a glimpse of Pope Francis offering his weekly prayer. Then they drove to Tuscany where they stayed in a villa for a week. Noah enjoyed eating gelato each day, experiencing the foods of the region, a class for Theresa and Noah in making pasta and cutting it by hand, visiting a very special balsamic vinegar winery, the Coliseum and the leaning Tower of Pisa, as well as enjoying all the beautiful architecture and art surrounding them.

Then it was off to Pula in Croatia and a visit with Antonio Budim, and then to Zagreb for the rest of the week, visiting their many friends and former co-workers. They were delighted to meet the families of many of their summer workers and were showered with an abundance of local gifts including honey, chocolates, olive oils and other treasures. All of these students have each returned to their homes in Croatia to complete their college studies and are successfully working in their chosen careers. Kudos to them all.

Sincerest condolences to Christine and Thomas Murphy and their family in the death of her father Robert Begley at the age of 99 in Simsbury, Conn. Services were held in Connecticut this past week.

Congratulations and all the best to my friend, Edgartown police sergeant Thomas Smith upon his retirement two weeks ago. He has already travelled to London for a few days and is now in Key West. He did stop home over the weekend for a retirement party at The Loft. The best news is that he will still be a summer traffic officer as well as doing details along the highways and byways.

Congratulations and all the best to MK1 Spencer D. Thigpen as he retires from the United States Coast Guard on April 5 from Coast Guard Station Easport in Maine after more than 20 years of service. When he was stationed here, Spencer was the first to enjoy the new office overlooking Menemsha Harbor in the new boathouse. His wife Jamie formerly worked at the West Tisbury School until they moved to Calais, Me. in July 2016 with their children Wyatt and Faith. They recently welcomed four month old Hattie. The family will move to Spencer’s home state of Texas within the next few months.

Lisa Vanderhoop returned home this past week after attending the New York wedding of her nephew Michael Bibko and his wife Lauren on the first anniversary of their wedding in Belfast, Ireland. This was a reception for those family members in New York who were unable to attend, especially his grandfather.

Happy 53rd anniversary to John and Kathy Born on April 5.

Happy birthday to Linda Fischer on April 1 who shares the day with Dr. George Santos and Peggy Yoars; Audrey Jeffers will party on April 2; Genc Brinja will celebrate on April 3 as will Amy Vanderhoop; April 4 is a day of celebration for Rose Styron, Bonnie Chalifoux, Christopher Murphy, Mary Wolfson, Gary Paraboschi, Donna Rose, Amira Madison and Shelby Ives.