This year, the Farm Institute will lose two of its key leaders: brothers Rob and Matthew Goldfarb. Rob, development director, leaves today. Matthew, executive director, will depart at the end of this summer, after being at the reins for five years.

This week, the two sat down to talk about the Katama-based farm, its past and its future. For them, the Farm Institute is a classic community success story, with a beginning, a hardworking present and a future they feel will remain strong, well after their departure.

In this complex world, it seems everything affects everything else. And so, because Wall Street bankers metaphorically trashed much of the U.S. economy, the town of Tisbury was forced to literally trash much of its recycling effort.

Truly. It’s a bit of a convoluted story, but it begins with the amount of trash generated by the town of Tisbury, which was down 17 per cent last year, according to Tisbury’s director of public works, Fred LaPiana.

Tisbury Great Pond was closed to shellfishing as of yesterday, while Squibnocket Pond will be open for harvesting on Monday, the Chilmark selectmen announced at their meeting Tuesday.

But the new location presents access problems: a road and parking lot repair project has left boulders blocking fisherman from accessing Squibnocket Pond with boats or trailers. And because the boulders are located in a wetland, the board has to get a permit from the town conservation commission before moving them.

If you’re driving down North Road and happen to see a petite woman in a pink fleece, with long, straw-colored hair, be sure to wave. She’s always friendly enough to return the gesture, even nearing the end of a brisk 16-mile walk over hilly terrain.

The woman is Susan Larsen, and she’s training for a marathon of sorts. In May, she will participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a two-day, nearly 40-mile walk through Boston.

Closets Opening Soon

BravEncore, a nonprofit organization that supports Island high school performing arts, presents Closets, an original play written by Kate Murray and her Theatre 2 class, on Friday, March  26 at 7 p.m. at the high school performing arts center. The play was recently performed at the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild competition.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome; all proceeds benefit the BravEncore troupe trip to perform at the 2010 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Grief Support

Is someone close to you dying or been struck by a terminal illness? Do you feel that you are already grieving? Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard is forming an anticipatory grief group, to support those undergoing the fear, frustrations and other emotions that accompany the grieving process that often begins before death.

Military Chaplain Talk

Oak Bluffs police officer and chaplain David Berube will be speaking at the Faith Community Church in Edgartown on Sunday, March 21, about his recent experience being a chaplain at the Mortuary Affairs Operations Center, Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The Dover base is the first stop on American soil for the remains of fallen servicemen and women.

From Gazette editions of March, 1985:

The Square Rigger, a well known Edgartown landmark located at the entrance to town, will be sold at the end of the month to William Holtham of Chilmark. Mr. Holtham is the owner of the Home Port, a family-style seafood restaurant in Menemsha. Mr. Holtham said he plans to turn the Square Rigger back into a full restaurant; the establishment was formerly a restaurant but has become better known as a tavern in recent years.

Happy 100th, Evelyn

Happy birthday to Evelyn O’Brien, who turns 100 on March 24. Mrs. O’Brien has been a summer visitor to the Island. Her daughter, Mary Jo (Jody) Reston, and son in law, Richard Reston, of Edgartown and Sarasota, are owners and publisher of the Vineyard Gazette. Four generations of family, relatives and friends from all over the country are gathering in Sarasota to celebrate.

St. Patrick’s 5K

The annual St. Patrick’s Day(ish) 5K road race and fitness walk, a benefit for the Martha’s Vineyard Boys’ and Girls’ Club, is Saturday, March 28, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Ocean View Restaurant and Tavern on Chapman avenue in Oak Bluffs. The 3.1-mile, USATF certified course loops around East Chop, promising scenic views for runners and walkers.

This year, race organizers have added a Fun Run for kids ages five to 12, starting at 10 a.m.