The Maypole dance is not only a highlight, it is a right of passage for students at the Chilmark School. They practice for months, first without ribbons but always with eager anticipation of May Day.

On Monday, May 3 the fourth and fifth graders twirled for an audience on the green lawn in front of the school. Preschoolers through third graders watched alongside teachers, family and friends, while one of our favorite photographers, Albert Fischer, documented the event. It is a day full of joy and happiness and my lovely niece, Emme Carroll, was a participant so that, of course, made it extra special.

May 1 wasn’t just May Day, it was Nancy Aronie’s 80th birthday. Although I don’t know all the details about how she celebrated, I am certain there was just the right amount of laughter, fanfare and birthday goodness dished out by her loved ones, especially grandson Eli.

Birthday wishes are shouted out to many more including my dear neighbor and brother-in-law, Tim Carroll, along with Steve Broderick (proud grandfather of Hunter, Zeke and Duke), and Andy Goldman, Susan Hobby, Margo Villa, Barbara Murphy (another May Day celebrant), Bill Smith, Tracy Thorpe, Jim Welch, Lisa Burkin, Pete Knight, Josh Scott, Matt Taylor, Oliver Osnoss, cousin and youngest flower girl Sarah Flanders, and Brooke Emin.

Wayne Iacono went out on his lobster boat, Freedom, to check gear and toted a fishing pole with him just in case. After catching a few small mackerel worthy of dinner on the grill he reeled in a beauty of a false albacore. This may not be the first 2021 fish caught in Vineyard waters, but it’s the first I’ve heard about. There was supporting photographic evidence too. Go Captain Wayne.

John, Hillary, Ella and Lathrop Keene carted themselves out to Denver this past week for a momentous occasion. Adelaide donned a cap and gown for her graduation ceremonies at Regis University. Although sister Thea wasn’t there in person (she’s been sailing and just arrived in Fiji) she certainly was cheering from afar. Congratulations Adelaide.

Our annual town meeting and town elections are May 24 and 26. Town clerk, Jennifer Christy, shares that voters can vote early by mail. Check out the town clerk’s page on the town Website where you can easily find the application to apply for a ballot.

Bella Thorpe and her eight-year-old mare, Bella Ymas, traveled to Mystic Valley Hunt Club with her coach, Tracey Olsen of Woodbe Farm in West Tisbury this past weekend. The Bellas not only competed in the Young Rider tests but they won both days. It is the highest level of dressage competition either has ever participated in. The hope now is to to qualify for the North American Youth Championships held in Michigan in August. This is so exciting.

Marianne Neill’s beautiful artwork is on display at the film center through May 23. Her work is the first in a series of shows curated by Featherstone that will hang at the Feldman Artspace to celebrate “the year of the woman artist.”

Bradley and I have a goal: we’d like to see all the national parks in the continental U.S. together (together being key). Between the two of us we’ve managed to see most. She’s checked off some and I’ve checked off others, and together we’ve seen about one third.

After an overnight with my folks, who I don’t see enough of, we visited Acadia National Park. Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, Bass Harbor Head Light, Jordan Pond, Sand Beach, Schoodic Point and many more quintessential spots on Mount Desert Island. We also elevatored up to the tippy top of the Penobscot Narrow Bridge Observatory. Who else has done that?

Summer showed a little bit of itself in Menemsha this past week. People were fishing on the jetty, tour vans were back on the road and folks were on the beach tossing frisbees and skipping stones. Most of the shops in the basin have their open signs hung and the galley will soon follow suit. Yes folks, summer is nearly upon us.