Oak Bluffs voters will not lack for choice in this April’s town elections, with five disparate candidates running for two selectmen’s positions.

They lined up in alphabetical order on Wednesday night at the League of Women Voters candidates’ forum in the town library, five men with not a lot in common, save an acknowledged lack of hair, to put their pitches for a hand in running Martha’s Vineyard’s most cash-strapped town.

A study into the mooted amalgamation of the Tisbury and Oak Bluffs police departments has concluded that a merger would produce a better standard of policing and could save the towns close to $500,000 a year.

The MMA Consulting Group report, delivered to the towns this week, looked at options for greater cooperation between the towns’ police departments, ranging from limited sharing of some services to full amalgamation. It recommended amalgamation.

This is the month for looking at Saturn. In the coming week the ringed planet is closer to the earth than at any other time in the year. Saturn rises in the east at sunset and sets in the west at sunrise.
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Please Adopt Us

The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard has a few nice animals who need good homes.

Everyone at the shelter is so pleased to let you know that our boxer cross, Bella, has been adopted and is now happily settled in at her new home. We all miss her but are glad that she now has a family all her own.

JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Well, March went out like a lion. The record book has closed on a colder than usual month. Although it is officially spring you would not know it. The biting wind doesn’t want you to stay outside very long and makes it colder than what it is. Today is April Fools’ day so watch out for the usual pranks.

Modern Times

From Gazette editions of April, 1936:

HOLLY NADLER

508-274-2329

(hollynadler@gmail.com)

Did everyone know that on this day, 401 years ago, the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold anchored off the shore of what we now call Oak Bluffs, in earlier times known as Squash Meadow, and claimed this town for the British crown? There might even be some arcane law on the books that enables us to acquire titles. Sir Bobby Pachico? Lady Vicky Hanjian? Rock on!

April Fools’!

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Nonna gets to be Nonna again. There’s a new star shining in our neighborhood back in my Old Country. Nonna’s friends and neighbors, Arun Singh and Rachel Schoolcraft, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Olivia Lee Singh, on Friday, March 25 at 6:01 p.m. Olivia weighed in at 6 pounds, one ounce and is 18.25 inches long. Congratulations, and may she live happily ever after!

JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Chilmarkers know how to throw a good party. On Wednesday, the ladies of the Women’s Symposium group joined the members of the Friends of the Chilmark Library to share their culinary and party making talents and create a wonderful birthday party for Rhoda Diamond, who celebrated a significant day! She was genuinely surprised and enjoyed the moment. Cheers from us all, Rhoda, and best wishes for a grand year!