“You care for nothing but shooting, dogs and rat-catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family.”

These are clearly not the words of a doting parent nor were they possibly encouraging to a budding scholar and scientist. They are, however, the rantings of Charles Darwin’s father.

I swear I saw the bark on that oak tree move; can’t be. Wow, it is a tiny bird. It just flew to the base of a neighboring oak tree trunk. The little tyke blends in so perfectly I can’t see where it is located if it stops moving. Now he’s creeping up and around the trunk. Now I see him, now I don’t. The tree bark brown and white of his back provides him with excellent camouflage. No wonder he can hold onto the bark; look at the length of those toes and claws! He just spread his tail and flashed a rusty red rump. That tail seems to be propping the bird in place when he sits still.

Last weekend’s big melt certainly put me in a spring mood. Too bad there are still so many skating rinks in the driveways and shady sections of the dirt roads.

Alexander Arrives

Nicole Leavitt and Donals Ethier of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Alexander Robert Ethier, born on Feb. 4, 2011, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Alexander weighed 8 pounds, 1.4 ounces at birth. He joins sisters Arienna and Aliyah.

Eating Well, Doing Good

’Tis better to give than to devour. Even better to give while feasting.

That’s right, the shark is looking to do good while still doing what comes most natural. Eating.

On Tuesday, Feb. 8 Sharky’s in Edgartown will be holding a benefit for the Friends of Tisbury Council on Aging. Best of all, you don’t have to do anything more than enjoy great food to be a part of the benefit.

A percentage of all food sales on that day will go to this good cause.

Map the World Wide Web

Feeling a little lost on the Internet these days? The Chilmark Public Library is hosting a free workshop series called Getting Connected to help. Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 9, it is aimed at helping computer users experience more from the Internet and connect with friends, family and customers.

The workshops, led by BZ Riger of Oak Bluffs, are appropriate for individuals and small business owners. They will be held on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the library meeting room.

For details, call 508-645-3360.

Foreign Policy Matters

Vineyarders who want to learn about and participate in foreign policy decision-making, take note: a Great Decisions Discussion Group begins on Thursday. Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., and runs for eight successive Thursdays at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

Witness to Haiti’s Struggle

Over the years, the Martha’s Vineyard community has made a commitment to Haiti through numerous fundraisers, groups of Islanders traveling to the country to assist in myriad ways and by being host to Haitian artists here on the Island. It is a movement that began many years before the earthquake and has intensified since that tragedy.

Photo Contest

The 21st Century School Fund, Healthy Schools Campaign, and Critical Exposure announce Through Your Lens, a photo and essay contest showcasing the reality of our nation’s school facilities. Students, teachers and community members are invited to show the world what they see every day at school: the good parts, the troubling parts, the parts to be proud of and the parts we must work to change.

James A. (Jim) Tuck, an archaeologist who has sifted through coastline soil looking for stories that go back centuries here and afar, gave a talk Saturday night at the Barnacle Club. Mr. Tuck, a resident of Hines Point, has been exploring the earliest history of whaling in Labrador waters. His search has taken him back to a time well before the Vineyard was discovered by European explorers.