Despite the weather over the past week, pinkletinks are in full chorus along Lighthouse Road while the osprey have arrived at Lobsterville. Daffodils are in bloom around Aquinnah.

Gratitude to those serving on the front lines, especially Martha’s Vineyard Hospital staff and emergency services across the Vineyard.

Humanitarians are assisting worldwide and one family especially generous over the past week has been Aquinnah and Chilmark’s own James V. Taylor and his wife Kim. Their generosity was to Massachusetts General Hospital for their work during the Covid crisis.

Thanks to Bertie Viera Madeiras about half of our MVRHS Class of 1964 has been on a group email this past week. It is our form of virtually staying in touch.

Over the past week, I have forwarded email requests for donations for several nonprofits and perhaps you received one pertaining to one of the many boards I proudly serve on. The leadership of these nonprofits has made the determination to continue paying employees over the next few weeks, a courageous move in this time of uncertainty but certainly well-deserved for all involved. Even a small amount will assist our Vineyard nonprofit organizations. We are all in this together.

Another one of my nonprofits that I proudly represent as community liaison is the USCG Menemsha Spouses Association. It has been reported nationally that military families are experiencing food insecurity during this pandemic. Many of the Coast Guard families stationed on the Vineyard have very young children. The crew is standing their watch 24/7. If you would like to assist the families this year, your tax deductible donation may be mailed to: USCG Menemsha Spouses Association, 20 Edy’s Island, Menemsha, MA 02552. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerest condolences to family and friends of David Berman, who passed away on March 16 in New York. He was born in 1939 in Boston. As an attorney, he spent most of his career on Wall Street in Manhattan. David and his wife Marilyn first visited Gay Head in 1966 and he knew this was where he wanted to live and cherished his 50 summers at their Lighthouse Road home overlooking Vineyard Sound. They were married for 54 years.

Sincerest condolences to family and friends of Charles P. Madison, Jr., a tribal elder, who passed away in Philadelphia on 7 March, the son of the late Charles Sr. and Lucille (White). He was the eldest of eight children, born in 1944 in Philadelphia, and devoted to his family and proud of being the patriarch of his Madison family. Charles attended St. Emma Military Academy in Powhatan, Va., graduated from West Virginia State College, and earned a bachelors degree from Temple University. He retired from Pennwalt Corporation after 33 years as a computer systems program analyst. Every autumn he would visit the Vineyard to renew friendships and family connections, as a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). He would rent a home in Aquinnah, for his family members to enjoy the Vineyard. Over the past few years, they were always at home for the annual pow-wow where his presence will be greatly missed this year.

Happy 54th anniversary wishes to John and Kathy Born on April 5.

Happy 20th anniversary wishes to Christian and Christine Soulagnet on April 8.

Belated Happy Birthday wishes to Amy Macey as she celebrated on March 31.

Happy Birthday wishes to Rose Styron, Amira Madison, Christopher Murphy, Gary Paraboschi, Bonnie Chalifoux, Donna Rose, Shelby Ives, and Deborah Mayhew who all share the day on April 4. Patty Gazaille, Sandy Ferreira, and Nadaizja Aiguier-Bolling share April 6. Jennie Greene, Dona Mazza, and Taza Vercruysse party on April 7. Megan Alley, Douglas Vanderhoop and Cynthia Low celebrate on April 8. Beth Kaeka parties on April 9.