Sounds of chattering teenagers filled the performance hall as they slowly gathered around the piano at the center of the stage. Dressed in causal clothing, some of it splashed with names of colleges they hope to attend next fall, these Island teens appeared relaxed in their role as international performers fresh off a seven-engagement tour of Austria.

After performing in the cathedrals, palaces and streets of Vienna, the Minnesingers this week were preparing for this weekend’s Island show, called Can You Dig It?

The Menemsha Fisheries Development Fund presents Securing a Future for Coastal Fishing Communities: Ideas from Eastern Maine on Wednesday, May 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Chilmark Public Library.

Robin Alden, executive director of the Penobscot East Resource Center and former Maine commissioner of marine resources, and Ted Ames, life-long commercial fisherman, scientist and 2005 winner of a MacArthur Fellows Program award, will share their work.

Aquinnah’s young people are a renewable tribal energy source, the annual spring social potluck showed last Sunday.

The annual event was sponsored and organized by members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) youth program.

Featuring traditional Wampanoag singing and dancing and a 20-foot-long potluck food table, the event drew more than 125 celebrants to tribal headquarters, including youth groups from the Mashantucket Pequot, Mashpee, Mohegan and Narragansett tribes.

The Vineyard Haven Library begins a new foreign film series on Wednesday, May 7, at 1 p.m.

The first movie is Russian, with subtitles for the Russian, Finnish, and Sámi (spoken in Lapland) languages. The film begins in September, 1944, a few days before Finland went out of the Second World War. A Lapp woman, Anni, gives shelter at her farm to escaped soldiers of the two enemy armies. Unable to speak each other’s language, the two men begin to fall in love with Anni and are forced to let their body language speak for them.

Those mighty mites are back and a few days early at that. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have been reported in Chilmark and Ocean Heights so wash your feeders well, fill them with sugar water and hang them up! Don’t forget that the feeders should be cleaned frequently, especially in warm weather.

The weekend of May 16 is the annual birdathon, a competition that Massachusetts Audubon has been conducting for 25 years. Felix Neck will be involved this year for the second time and we need birders and sponsors to help out.

By LYNNE IRONS

How is it even possible that the weeds have already overtaken my gardens? You have to admire them. They get pulled, cut, cultivated and mulched and yet they persist. I wish I knew my weeds better. I need to give Abigail Higgins a ring and get some identifications. I have several with which I am learning to live. They bloom and provide living mulch, so to speak. One is jewelweed. The foliage is attractive as well as the yellow flowers. The orange juice from inside the stem somewhat relieves poison ivy itch.

Mytoi Cleanup

The Trustees of Reservations will sponsor a Mytoi spring planting and garden cleanup at Mytoi on Chappaquiddick from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 3. The Trustees will provide lunch as thanks for spending a spring morning caring for the Island’s only public Japanese-style garden.

Participants should bring their own work gloves, rakes, and shovels. They can join the effort anytime throughout the morning. Those who wish to participate are asked to call 508-693-7662.

I guess that it is true that you can’t have it all. Wood anemones should know this adage well since they lack much.

If you need a taxi in West Tisbury, first call the town selectmen.

That is exactly what Morgan Reitzas, the owner of MVY taxi, a new company, did and this week he emerged with a license to operate a cab service in town.

Tuesday was the last day to file nomination papers with local towns for candidates seeking a seat on the Dukes County Commission.

Three of the seven county commissioners are now serving out the last months of their four-year terms: John Alley of West Tisbury, Leonard Jason Jr. of Chilmark and Roger Wey of Oak Bluffs.

Mr. Alley and Mr. Jason are seeking reelection. Mr. Wey will not run.