Flipping pages somewhere recently, I came across the sentence “Spring is the season of renewal.” Although I never really thought of it with such a clear and precise definition in mind, it certainly fits.

The osprey are back, along with the pinkletinks, daffodils and herring. Along with these eye-catching and sometimes jaw-dropping signs of spring inspiration come the constant whir of leaf blowers, more traffic on the road and the need to remind ourselves that we are only here on Earth for a short visit. Slow down, take a breath, don’t get annoyed too quickly and be sure to smell the flowers along the way because the simplicity of a beautiful scent can shift life back into a better perspective.

With spring comes the influx of ticks. You can never know too much about these little buggers and the diseases they can transmit when they decide to hitch a ride on you. On Friday, April 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. there will be a talk by Dr. Erin McGintee, an expert on Alpha-gal syndrome. It will take place at the Agricultural Hall and all are welcome.

If you’re wondering what Alpha-gal is, it’s that nasty food allergy syndrome caused by a Lone Star tick bite. Tuck your pants into your socks, use permethrin and do daily tick checks because, yes, those buggers are back to being busy.

Speaking of busy, the commercial fishermen around Menemsha harbor are knocking the cobwebs out of their wheelhouses and getting ready for the season. Things are a little delayed with the late opening of lobstering but activity is on the rise.

Wayne Iacono took Freedom down the Sound and hauled out at the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard. She got a once over, tune up and a little fresh paint. She’s been re-splashed after a brief spell up on the hard.

John Larsen took his bright white skiff out for a shakedown cruise in search of the perfect location to drop a little gear.

Bob Sloane brought his boat back from New Bedford earlier this week feeling little kid excited to be back on the water.

Double digit gals Natalie and Vivian Persons made the trek from Niskayuna, N.Y. with their parents Katie and Nick. They spent time at the Vincent family home where the Easter bunny managed to find them and deliver baskets filled with goodies.

The Bernhard family paid a weekend visit to their Carroll Lane home where family walks with their pups Max and Quincy were the norm. Life is busy, especially with the addition of six-day a week track practice for the youngest daughter, Kat. She, along with sisters Lily and Charlotte, look forward to another summer in town and the escape from their suburban home in Wellesley.

A quick little extra thank you goes to Ted for sharing a sweet bouquet of Great-Grandma Bette Carroll’s daffodils. Many a plastic egg stuffed with jellybeans was nestled in among them for egg hunts over the years.

The Fishing Partnership will be in town at Station Menemsha on May 11 and 12 for a two-day intensive safety and training workshop. This training is designed for all fishermen, including crewmen, to learn or hone fundamental skills. Through hands-on training, fishermen learn about EPIRBs, flares, Mayday calls, man overboard recovery, firefighting, flooding and damage control, de-watering pumps, immersion suits, personal flotation devices, life rafts, cold­ water survival, helicopter rescues, stability, liability and emergency procedures and more. See? I said it was intensive.

If you are fisherman and are interested in learning more about this class, please contact Julia Messersmith at 774-840-9418 or jmessersmith@fishingpartnership.org.

Let’s all send lots of love to the Ganz family. After 97 years sharing his vibrant personality, knowledge, appreciation for everything life brought his way and successful gardening tips, Robert Ganz took his last breath. He was surrounded by family at his favorite spot on Chilmark’s north shore. A formal announcement will be shared in the coming days so for now, know he went peacefully with a true appreciation for the remarkable life he lived. We should all be so lucky and grateful.