“You got to be in it to win it” and “You can’t win if you don’t play” are lottery slogans that also ring true when it comes to birding. The nice thing about birding on the Vineyard is that, if you can get out the door, you can find birds, and find them in a variety of inspiring habitats.

By LYNNE IRONS

It is an uphill climb from every direction to my hometown of Rew. It is one of the highest points in the state of Pennsylvania.

It was a typical rural village in the northern Appalachian mountain range. We had an elementary school, gas station, mom-and-pop grocery store, beer joint, and a fire hall that hosted square dancing every Saturday night. Now that the mall and Wal-Mart killed the place, all that is left is a little church which cannot support its own minister.

Receives Degree

Sandra Fowler, of Vineyard Haven recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga. Fowler received a bachelor of fine arts degree in metals and jewelry.

Town Meeting Time

Next Tuesday evening, Tisbury residents will gather in the gymnasium of the Tisbury School for an activity that goes back to the days of British colonial rule and yet remains as fresh as the latest Island controversies, whether large or small.

Should enough citizens turn out, town moderator Deborah Medders will declare that a quorum is present, and the voters of Tisbury will again begin the annual practice of coming together to govern their town.

On Stage

Cue the lights, please. In rooms small and large, some even sporting curtains, children are filling stages all over the Vineyard these days. Many debuted not long ago at the Vineyard Playhouse through its wonderful fourth grade theatre project. Others are finding their spotlight in spring productions staged in school gyms or cafeterias.

Some of their lines will be delivered with punch, some mumbled, some forgotten entirely until whispered from the wings. But listen carefully and what you really hear is the flint of imagination.

SUPPORTING DIVERSITY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The Island community recently suffered a tragic loss with the death of a young woman. No one denies this. But in the aftermath of the accident, some members of our community began to talk in disparaging and mean-spirited terms about other members of our community.

Lobsters and Ewes

From the Vineyard Gazette editions of March, 1983:

A LESSER EVIL

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I had to miss the Cape Wind hearing. I support Cape Wind. For me it is an indication that we are learning to dream differently, and think differently, and act differently. I have no quarrel, however, with those who oppose it. It is what it is to each of us.

Vineyarders will enjoy arguing for many more years about when the world will run out of oil, about the causes and effects of climate change, about the safety of nuclear power and about the politics of our dependence on imported fuel. We like to argue. But increasingly, many of us are coming around to the idea of a reliable energy future for Martha’s Vineyard based on higher efficiency and local generation of energy primarily from wind. The Island Plan expects that remarkable transition from fossil fuels to be achieved within 40 years.

Hey to all our readers, this is Troy (85) Small. Every week I edit the Sophomores Speak Out and I enjoy it because I get to read what the other kids in my class are talking and thinking about. We have a lot to say this week. I particularly related to Haley Rossi’s piece about homework. Our readers probably think we all complain all the time, but we have our reasons. Teachers don’t realize that when we get an assignment from them we go on to the next teacher who is waiting with another one.