School vacation is upon us. The doors to the school will open today, Friday afternoon, and as Molly G. shared last week, the center of town will surely be the place to be if you want to see a band of children bearing resemblance to having been set free in a candy store. They will hoot. They will holler. They will hug their teachers and high-five their friends before loading up in the back seat of mom and dad’s minivan. Buckled up and the adventure begins as soon as vehicles are loaded onto the ferry.

Inhabitants will be sparse here in Chilmark until families begin to trickle back in, children eager for school once again, on March 2. Our friends and neighbors will be back from near and far, hot and cold, exotic and educational places. Hawaii, Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Caribbean islands, Florida, Disney World and more. Yes, Disney World is in Florida but, really, we all know it’s like a world of its own.

On a personal note, my teen was down with the flu last week. I will admit my ear hasn’t been to the ground when it comes to the comings and goings of my friends and neighbors. I was a bit reclusive myself with twofold concerns—one, I kept thinking I was bound to be carrying around the plague with me and it was ready to leap out of my body and pounce on anyone I came close to and, two, for fear of dehydration I stayed near urging sips of juices and Gatorade every half hour or so. This went on for a full week. The house has now been aired out and, knock on wood, the rest of us seem to have missed germ absorption.

The CCC was a happening place last Wednesday as the Chilmark School children made their way to the stage for their winter concert and performance. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends filed in eager to enjoy our littlest community members. I had a chance to chat with Aquinnah kids, Tillie and Emmett Taylor before the show and they were both excited and ready to share their original works.

The fifth graders have returned from the annual ski trip to Sugarloaf Mountain. Carrabassett Valley, Maine has likely become accustomed to the annual Chilmark School fifth grade pilgrimage. Although the adventure ended up with an extra night in a Cape Cod hotel, each child on the trip gained a little more perspective on themselves and their classmates. They returned home feeling a huge sense of accomplishment. Zeb Athearn would be my go-to guy if you wanted the kid perspective on this trip.

Sarah (Slater) Bennett, husband Aaron and sons Jack and Scott made their way to town to dote on Jane Slater for her birthday. The Black Dog Tavern for brunch hit the spot. Happy birthday dear Jane.

Julie Flanders celebrates on Sunday, Feb. 23. May cards lined with kind words fill your mailbox.

Greg Maynes and Liz Willette were at their Little Oak family home for the long weekend. Dog walks and get-togethers with friends filled their time.

Ainsley Clancy has sought out some sunshine and southern hospitality. Home for the next couple of months is Stable View Farm in Aiken, South Carolina. She is working for Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride of Blue Clover Eventing based in Maryland. According to her mother Kathleen (Tilton) she is missing 7a breakfast sandwiches and could do without another tornado — yes an EF-1 touched down at the farm last week. She is quite happy training her young thoroughbred mare. She will be back with her folks at their Middle Road home just as the finishing touches on the new barn are completed. Checkers, sister Susannah’s pony, will be happy to have company. Susannah is enjoying 24/7 sunshine calling West Palm Beach home. She’s putting her criminal justice degree to good use working as a magistrate’s assistant. Seems like just yesterday both gals were knee-deep mucking stalls with braids in their hair at Pond View Farm.