While doing some much needed cleaning at my house I came across five books I was carrying in a bag in my truck. This was from before a tree fell on my truck and murdered it. The books were all by Island authors. My plan had been to drive around with them, run into the authors, and ask for autographs. We have so many talented writers here I daresay you could be kept busy reading books by Islanders for the rest of your lives.

The books are: The Space Between by our poet laureate, Jill Jupin; Clara Bow Died for Our Sins by master wordsmith, Arnie Reisman; Labyrinth by poet and artist, Annette J. Sandrock; and two by Skip Finley, Tales of Oak Bluffs and Whaling Captains of Color. So if you are one of these authors and see a woman with a bulging tote bag running after you, get your pens ready. I highly recommend the rest of you read these.

Speaking of Island authors, Judith Campbell has just published Stranger in the Village, the fourth Viridienne Greene mystery. Where does this multi-talented woman find the time?

In other accomplishments, my nephew, Jonathan Gardella, was very busy on Easter Sunday playing his violin at four masses in Florida. Jonathan is majoring in music theory at college.

My dear young friend, Holly Petre, has been accepted to the NYU graduate program in journalism. Her parents, Jeff and Susan, could not be more pleased.

Our library announces new books and many Zoom programs, including knitting. Our librarians are keeping information flowing despite the lockdown of the building. Check it out.

My young friend Noel Macy visited his family here for Easter weekend. I had the pleasure of lunching with him at Waterside two days before he returned to South Boston. Noel and I are rather cynical about Valentine’s day. We plan to introduce a bill in the state legislature designating Valentine’s day a second Halloween. We spent so much time discussing it, I think that qualified as a business lunch.

As you know, our Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is indispensable. The campus at 111 Edgartiwn road will hold a jobs fair on Tuesday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campus expansion and delivery of their much needed services are in the vision. You may go online to get the list of available positions.

Get well bouquets go out to Sandy Ferreira in Falmouth.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along Barbara Kunzelman on April 13; Rita McKenna Kean on April 14; and two great ladies, Sarah Codding and Lorraine Clark, on April 25. Many happy returns.