At the end of a discursive three-hour Oak Bluffs selectmen’s meeting on Wednesday emotions bubbled to the surface about the role of the shellfish constable and the state of the town’s shellfish department in general.

“I think right now the shellfish department is a disgrace,” said fisherman Steve Amaral. “You go up to the town highway department building and the boats are up there, the racks are up there, the flotation devices are up there. It looks like a junk yard.”

If the weather finally> turns a corner toward spring balminess in the coming weeks it may be nudged by the overwhelming outpouring of warmth seen at the West Tisbury School for principal Michael Halt, who returned to the school this week after a 15-month tour of duty with the U.S. Marines Corps Reserves in Afghanistan.

Brynn Elizabeth Arrives

Casey and Dan Bennett of Franklin announce the birth of a daughter, Brynn Elizabeth Bennett, on March 20. The maternal grandparents are T.O. and Shellie Johnson of Edgartown, previously from Marblehead. Paternal grandparents are Kevin and Denise Bennett of Ayer.

HOLLY NADLER

508-274-2329

(hollynadler@gmail.com)

This week I’ve been thinking of the Last of the Yankee Ladies on this Island — Louise Aldrich Bugbee of Oak Bluffs who wrote for this paper for over 30 years and who died in January of 2008. Now, I know what you’re thinking: There are other Yankee ladies who are still alive and putting up beach plum jam and saving rubber bands in the top right-hand drawer of their grandpa’s desk whose rolltop hasn’t worked down since the Eisenhower years.

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvvgazette@yahoo.com)

JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

The Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force invites all middle school parents to Chat and Chowder on Wednesday, May 4 at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School cafeteria from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the evening with delicious food prepared by the high school culinary arts program. There will be a discussion of resources to support you as your children transition through middle school and the high school. Please RSVP to coordinators Theresa Manning or Jamie Vanderhoop at 508-696-5304.

Elevated Views

From Earlier Gazette Editions:

Martha’s Vineyard has two sorts of hills, those that are real hills with impressive height, and those that merely happen to be somewhat elevated above the general locale. As to height, Peaked Hill with its 311 feet tops all others and Prospect Hill with its 302 feet has the loftiest appearance because of its location close to Vineyard Sound.

MARGARET KNIGHT

508-627-8894

(margaret02539@yahoo.com)

JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

April 22 60 38

April 23 53 39

April 24 57 45 0.39

April 25 64 49 0.04

April 26 62 49 Trace

April 27 60 54 Trace

April 28 66 56 0.05

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 56º F.