They tell us there are no free rides. But, in fact, that is not true. Last week the Up-Island Council on Aging and the Vineyard Transit Authority began a Saturday shopping shuttle that included a free Lift service. It is meant for those up-Islanders 55 and older who want a ride to the grocery store or to do other errands in Edgartown and/or Vineyard Haven.

I met Karen, a smiling, welcoming, Island-born school bus driver on weekdays, and a Lift driver on weekends. She stopped in our driveway, asked me where I wanted to go and I chose Cronig’s in Vineyard Haven. Karen waited for me while I shopped and then she drove me home.

I am sorry to say I was the only passenger. The organizers of the new service had run ads for a couple of weeks, and when I registered I was told one other person had filled out the application form. But I had the little bus all to myself, with Karen as my private chauffeur. Ahem.

Just think. You don’t have to find a parking space, or fill your gas tank, or dodge some idiot driver hurtling down State Road. You have an opportunity to check out a lot of interesting houses out the side windows, something you might just miss if you were driving.

If you were driving, you might miss seeing one of the unofficial roadside signs that says “Be kind.” Dan Waters reports that someone added to one of them, “or else.”

At the same time, all regular VTA bus service on the regular routes, on all the main roads, is free to all passengers from now until the end of September. New schedules, including a lot of other useful information, have just been printed.

Fill out a form at the senior center, and call the VTA Friday morning, and you will be ready to roll. Join me and Karen next Saturday. Don’t forget your shopping list.

We can soon buy local fresh salad greens from the Island’s farm stands. But now we can take it a step fresher and learn to grow our own. The Agricultural Society will sponsor a workshop on growing spinach, arugula, mustard and more on Tuesday, April 15, at 5:30 pm. at the Agricultural Hall. Rosemary Confalone is the aptly-named instructor.

Happy birthday Friday, April 11, to Brenda Codding. Kathy Ham, who creates delightful cartoon figures when she is not lawyering, will celebrate her big day on Sunday, April 13.

Congratulations and happy wedding anniversary to Mark and Becky Cournoyer on Friday, April 11, and to Thaw Malin and Cynthia Bloomquist on Monday, April 14.

Do not decide at the last minute to attend the annual Bivalve Ball at the Chilmark Community Center on Friday, April 11. The Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group long ago ran out of tickets to the popular event. They are warning people not to buy a ticket from a re-seller. It’s a scam. Anyone who’s not on the list and tries to get in will find out who’s got the mussel.