Thomas Dresser returned from Chicago! Not the city, but the musical put on by our talented MVRHS theater students. Tom reports it was full of great singing, dancing and professionalism. His granddaughter Shealyn performed beautifully and with a fractured foot. Congratulations to our students.

In the same vein, remember that Island Stars is taking applications for our summer theater camp at Island Theatre Workshop. Lee Fierro would be so proud of our kids.

Other talented Islanders include Gretchen Baer who has run Studio Mariposa in Bisbee, Ariz. for years. It is an art school for young people and, yes, sometimes their parents and guardians. Gretchen has just made the most recent cover of Life in Cochise. The story is about her art school and the students’ paintings and painting of the border wall. Gretchen has brought beauty to an American eyesore. She was here for her mother Jacqueline Baer’s 90th birthday, and she will return this summer.

Seasonal Islander Nishi Khorana Jadczack reports her dog Micah received a medal from the American Kennel Club for Best of Breed at the National Championship for 2022. Nishi thanks Micah’s groomer and handler. If we do get another future life I want to return as one of Nishi’s dogs.

A concert of our Music Street musicians is free and open to the public at the West Tisbury Public Library on Saturday, March 4 at 4 p.m. I’ll see you there.

Take advantage of the big sale at The Green Room while the kids are on vacation. It will go on for a few more weeks.

Trish Moreis promises to return for the summer. She recently left after having a memorial Mass at St. Augustine’s for her Mom, Josephine Tucker. After the Mass, family and friends attended a celebration of her life at the cemetery. JoJo is buried next to PopPop. I remember them both fondly.

Patty Knowles sent me a picture of the snowfall in her area of California. Amazing! The snow rather interrupted her birthday celebration but she had fun anyway. Watch for her return to the east coast this summer.

Love and prayers to Renee Ortiz who is in the hospital in Boston. Continued love and prayers to Fred Mascolo — Trader Fred — who is also having health issues.

Sad to hear that Jessie Hart Benton has passed. She was a bright light on this Island for so many years.

On Valentine’s Day the birthday bandwagon pulled Linda O’Leary along. On Feb. 15, Cheryl Boisvert celebrated. Octavia Essie and Frances Down partied on Feb. 20. And on Feb. 28 Andy Gardella and Patty Knowles took the cake. Many happy returns.