The sound of school buses not stopping at my corner twice a day this week is deafening. I miss it so. I am sure our kids are enjoying their week off.

Today, Wednesday, is National Pistachio Day. Our Island chronicler, Beth Healy, and my friend Scott D. Rhodes confirmed this for me. My favorite day! Besides International Left-handers Day, of course.

The celebration of fisher, artist, author Janet Messineo-Israel last weekend was just what was needed. Janet’s bestselling book, Casting into the Light, had put her in the forefront of books when it was published a few years back. Many people celebrated and showed up to greet her husband Tristan. Tristan suggests that you might like to donate to Compassionate Care ALS in Falmouth, a group that helped him and Janet as they struggled with her illness. If you would like to send a donation in her name the address is P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574. Thank you.

Other artists that have made a big impact on our lives are Gretchen Baer, the daughter of famous artist parents, Gene and Jackie. Our Island photographer, Michael Johnson, went out to this year’s rodeo in Tucson, Ariz. He stopped in to eat at the Bisbee Breakfast Club. No sooner did he enter when he recognized the style and the palette of the large, impressive mural on the wall. Gretchen Baer did a fabulous job on it! Our Island’s loss is Bisbee’s gain. Gretchen lives in Bisbee now. She is teaching kids at her Studio Mariposa. Sometimes their parents also!

Our MVRHS boys swim team scored their highest ever in the state competition in Boston. Congratulations.

Artist Marston Clough has hung many of his works in the library room of the Tisbury Council on Aging. The exhibit will run through March. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. I’ll see you there.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along a passel of our friends. Febr. 23 was shared by Brenda Tankard, Anne Sylvester, and Carol Borselle. Nannie, Frannie, Granny, AKA Frances P. Down celebrated with many friends and relatives on Feb. 24. And on Feb. 25 Sharon Simonin and Karen Howe took the cake. Many happy returns.