Despite all the cold, rainy, windy weather, we’ve crossed the line, first, into Daylight Saving Time and now, with the vernal equinox on Wednesday, into spring. Neither has made us feel particularly spring-like. Sometimes I feel as if the only harbinger of spring is the fact that I’m looking for one, as in the way that I’ve started tipping my head to look up at the still-empty osprey nest along my road.

Longer daylight hours allow more of our favorite town to be seen and lovely as it remains; winter has been harsh. The highway department is on its’ game, efficiently patching and filling many mini-potholes caused by plowed snowfall, water runoff and mostly commercial traffic, since our seasonal guests have not yet arrived.

What wacky weather! I always find the switch between winter and spring trying. The added light in evenings is a big plus, however. As far as cheerful spring flowers go, I hope you all picked up your daffodil bouquets to benefit cancer research and have them displayed on your desks and tables.

Skip Finley, director of sales and marketing for the Vineyard Gazette, has been named one of six recipients of the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s 2013 Ward L. Quaal Leadership Awards. Mr. Finley, a veteran radio executive, served as managing partner in Noepe Communications prior to joining the Gazette staff earlier this year.

The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard reports that their cages are almost empty, but they will begin to fill up as soon as the spring kittens arrive.

Up for adoption is a six-month-old orange tiger kitten named Lucy. Lucy is shy and needs a lot of compassion. She would make a wonderful barn cat, after she adjusts to her new surroundings.

Jerry, the small brown Chihuahua, is still looking for a home without young children. He is a friendly lap dog and would be a good match for an older family.

Best of the Vineyard. The words convey prestige and pride for the many Island businesses who vie for the honor. But ultimately it’s the public that decides which Island businesses and organizations are the very best at what they do.

I’ve got “nutting” bad to say about hickory trees.

Three cheers for local knowledge! Although Arizona is a birder’s paradise, it is a challenge to find birds you want to see even if there is a guide to show you the way. So we rediscovered the importance of chatting with birders in the areas where we hoped to observe birds we had never seen before.

Are you a small business owner seeking to improve or grow an existing business, or start a new business on the Island? The Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network is offering a $2,500 grant to further your goals.

The grant is open to both men and women, regardless of membership in the Women’s Network. Grant applications must be postmarked by April 2. The award winner will be announced in May. Application, instructions and information on application fees can be found at mvwomensnetwork.org.