Despite patches of snow still on the ground, spring has finally arrived! Ospreys are flying over Poucha Pond collecting sticks for their nests, American oystercatchers are back bobbing through the marsh grass, and everyone — particularly staff and volunteers at The Trustees of Reservations

So I got new glasses. And it’s just amazing what it’s like to read again and see the words, to drive again and see the road, to look at a label on coconut milk and see the actual ingredients.
But peering into the mirror is a whole other thing. The new prescription has given my wrinkles identities. This deep groove in the middle of my forehead is my father‘s heart attack. He is 50 and I am 15 and he keels over and is gone in less than a minute leaving my mother, a 44 year old widow with no money and no career.

March 13, 2013. To most Americans this is just another day. To a kid on the Vineyard, it might as well be Christmas. Except there’s no eggnog on the menu today. There are, however, a plethora of frozen delicacies. Soft-serve frozen yogurt, fruit smoothies and, of course, the almighty Blizzard. Yes, ladies and gentleman, today is the day that Dairy Queen is officially open for business.

From the Gazette editions of April 1976: Some businessmen likened it to Memorial Day weekend. Others compared it to the middle of July. All appearances and temperatures last Saturday seemed to mark the beginning of summer, and on Easter Sunday the sun was hot with the low haze of a smoky sou’wester hanging across the horizon.

Tom Dunlop wrote an excellent article on trap fishing for the March 8, 2013 Gazette. It had an extraordinary amount of interesting factual information in it and I noticed that he carefully referenced anecdotal material as the opinions of particular people, which is very helpful for understanding history.

The 2013 American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days were a resounding success! Thanks to the volunteers who pre-sold bouquets, those who made deliveries and the many who purchased daffodils on the sale days, over $10,000 dollars were raised. Cash donations enabled bouquets to be delivered to Windemere, each town’s senior center and to Island nursing homes on Tuesday

I am a 13-year-old eighth grader at Orchard View Middle School. I am five foot nine and a half inches tall. I am a tech teenager who knows a lot about gaming consoles, computers and cell phones. I basically know as much technology as a 30-year-old would if he is working at Apple, Google, Microsoft or Sony. My favorite gaming companies are Gearbox, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Tell-Tale Games, Irrational Games and Ubisoft. I wear the size of an average 16 year old, so I am a little overweight.

The Parents, teachers and preschool students of Grace Preschool would like to thank all of the individuals and businesses who donated to our annual spaghetti dinner and silent auction, which took place at Grace Preschool/Grace Church on Saturday, March 23.

I lost a friend. Martha’s Vineyard lost a friend. Eddie Belisle was the quintessential Vineyarder. Oh, he tried living off-Island but it just didn’t suit him. He loved the Island and took advantage of her bounty. Whether a smoked bluefish, venison, award winning vegetables or amazing dahlias, he shared all the fruits of his labor with his friends.

Hello Paula and Arnie [Reisman]. My name is Lily. We just received your marvelous, Floyd, in heaven. When Floyd told me his story it reminded me so much of my own that I thought I should send you a note. Like Floyd, I am, or should say I was a 12-year-old yellow lab who summered in Martha’s Vineyard with my people.