“These are the times that try men’s souls” was never more true in this nation than now. And women’s souls too, I might add, as the Second Wave Feminist I am. I was so pleased when Mr. Rogers, the inimitable Fred Rogers of the Neighborhood, said that his mother always told him in times of trouble to look for the helpers. Thank goodness, on our storybook Island, we don’t need to look too hard for the helpers. Here is a story of a brave bunch of West Chop folks who make me proud every year to be living in Vineyard Haven.

Despite the wet weather the West Chop-based Folks on Spokes fielded a team of 21 riders for the annual MS Bike-A-Thon on Island. The event was held on May 7. They raised over $14,000.00 for MS research. Overall the event has raised over $290,000. The team was hosted for the weekend by Walter and May Lynch, the West Chop Club, and the generosity of Jim Weisman and Felicity Tuttle who provide the use of their West Chop summer home to Folks on Spokes. The MS Society has partnered with the Island Boys & Girls Club for this fundraiser. This helps Islanders coping with MS and our local children’s club. If you would still like to donate give me a call and I shall direct you.

Our Vineyard Haven Public Library hosts its mini-book sale on Saturday May 20. The new, expanded time to buy your treasures in the program room is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I have always found this a great source of summer and winter reading, birthday gifts and Christmas presents. Not to mention the opportunity to run into your bibliophile buddies. Don’t miss it.

Knowing how much I like writing you can bet that as soon as possible I shall be joining the writing group re-forming on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ellie Bates suggests you bring a bag lunch or snacks to share. The group will reconvene on Tuesday May 23 at the Howes House in West Tisbury, directly across from Alley’s store. T

his gives me the opportunity to remind you all that I was entranced by the town column of longtime writer Polly Murphy when I moved here. When Polly retired from writing the column after 43 years, I then followed the inimitable Dionis Coffin Riggs. When I kept dropping my column off each week at the Gazette office in Edgartown, this was in the Dark Ages before computers, my editors informed me that Dionis was in her 90s and typed the column, therefore, so could I. Speaking of my editors, a shout out to the lovely Lauren Martin who shepherded my work for many years. Lauren and her husband and kids moved back to Australia after years in Vineyard Haven. Last week was son James Seccombe’s birthday. Lauren sent a picture of the little sprite who is now taller than she is, even in her clogs. Onward and upward, James.

The annual Tisbury school’s March to the Sea for Memorial Day will take place on Friday, May 26. The children carry lilacs and other fragrant flowers in a parade from Tisbury School to Robert Owen Park where we hold a ceremony to honor all in the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The American flag is saluted, taps is played, the children are dismissed from the park for their long weekend. Many kids jump in the water after the ceremony, clothes and all. Their first dip of the new season. If there is rain, the ceremony is held in the Tisbury school gym. In all my years of participating in this great day I only remember one time when we had it in the gym. The first time I witnessed this event I knew I wanted to move to Martha’s Vineyard. Save a spot on the bench in front of Leslie’s Drugstore for me!

Condolences to the family of Pat Welty, one of our most devoted and most fun seasonal residents who has passed. She has joined her Jack and we are all bereft.

Get well wishes go out to Bobbie Jo Sears. I hope she gets relief for her shoulder situation soon.

Congratulations to a recently re-united couple, Angel Jaclyn Pinto and Luis Angel Dones Coss. Well, they are both angels so everything should be fine. Extra kudos to Angel Pinto’s son Kristian who is graduating in June with a 4.0 average. Future’s so bright!

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Dot Eldefry, Zach Charter and Tony Gramkowski on May 19; May 21 is claimed by Rosie Bick; May 22 shines on Bridget Tobin, Theresa King and Thomas Battistini; May 23 smiles on James Gardella; May 24 is a party for Nobel prizewinner Bob Dylan and nurse par excellence Jessica Walsh; and on May 25 Peter Campbell, Amy Litchfield, Becky Jewett, Peter Scott and Celeste Ewing take the cake. Many happy returns.

Send Edgartown news to iklean@yahoo.com.