Looks like the winter of our discontent is finally over. With no freezing nights expected we can begin to carefully set out our plants.

As of last Wednesday I began to receive a passel of reports on hummingbirds returning. They were seen in all the Island towns. There is a protocol on how to feed and water hummingbirds. Please look that up before you try to attract them. And Kathy Landers reports seeing her first cat bird this year.

Our Tisbury Council on Aging has a few schedule changes. Cornhole is now on Thursdays from 11:15 a.m. until noon. And townwalkers will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m.

Talented Wendy Briggs is interested in taking on sewing repairs, mending projects big and small, and giving sewing lessons. Look for her flyers on all towns’ bulletin boards and her business cards. This is a much needed almost forgotten art.

La Strada on our Main Street had a soft opening. It is an Italian coffee shop and cafe. For a full Italian dinner turn the corner on Union street and dine at Salvatore’s — same owners.

After many years of living and working on island, Beldan K. Radcliffe, an exciting artist and crafter, has moved to East Falmouth. Belden will begin posting her many shows on the Cape and of course here on-Island. Our best to you, Beldan.

The new owners of our Dairy Queen are Paul Beeson and Kirsten Anderson. We wish them luck. We look forward to their opening in June.

Our Island illustrator, Kate Feiffer has a new book, this time a novel. If you are down in New York City, please stop and hear her talk at 6 p.m. at the 93rd and Madison Corner Bookstore. Of course we are anxiously awaiting for Kate to return to the Vineyard and have a talk here for us.

Sad news. Doug Johnson, partner to Uta Kloss, passed on Sunday night in Florida. They both owned and ran the Island Art Gallery, formerly Kennedy Studios, on our Main street for years. Their dog Fletcher went to work with them everyday. They retired to Florida a few years ago. Fletcher died in Florida, after a wonderful life with his loving parents. Now Doug has joined him. Our deepest sympathy to Uta Kloss.

Betty Burton is home after her exhausting hospital stay. She is doing better but still weak. Cards are still welcome at P.O Box 2641 Vineyard Haven.

Unfortunately, our town’s eminent filmmaker, Len Morris, was working in Kenya and had a medical emergency. Len is in the Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi but should be on his way back to us next week. Prayers for Ken and his family, please.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along Corey Hoehn and Jill Rosenkrantz on April 28; Evelyn Petrone and Thomas Cox claimed April 29; and on April 30 Lisa E Crabtree and Willie Nelson took the cake. Many happy returns.