By Lynne Irons>

There is nothing like carefree youth. While driving near the Tisbury School, I saw a young boy with a broken foot on crutches riding happily on a skateboard. I laughed out loud — only because I wasn’t his mother.

A special March reading series beginning next week will give Islanders the chance to know the work of some of the nation’s most talented emerging writers.

The West Tisbury Library, in collaboration with the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, will host readings every Wednesday in March at 5:30 p.m. featuring one poetry fellow and one fiction fellow from the renowned center for up-and-coming writers and artists.

No matter how many times I visit Costa Rica, there is always something new to experience. Many think of lush tropical rainforests or jungles when Costa Rica comes to mind, but there is another biome in this small Central American country that is equally fascinating. That is the tropical dry forest.

Some males will do anything to impress the ladies.

Even though I heard the call last week, I knew in my heart that he wasn’t my type. Hey, he wasn’t even my species.

Woodcocks have returned to the Island and are looking for a partner. In truth, one isn’t necessarily enough, since male woodcocks mate with as many female woodcocks as possible. Monogamy is not the cup of tea for this species.

Vineyard Masonic Lodge

Schedules Open House

The Vineyard’s masonic organization, Oriental-Martha’s Vineyard Lodge A.F. & A.M., will hold an open house tomorrow, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The lodge is on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, across the street from the intersection with County Road.

“The lodge is open to all,” said Worshipful Master Leonard (Lenny) R. Verville. There will be a reception, a video explaining the organization, and refreshments.

The Vineyard Nursing Association has introduced a new private home care services program. Private Care Services is designed to meet the growing demand for personal help in the home that reflects the needs of a population living longer and aging at home and much more.

The Vineyard Nursing Association’s nurses help clients with clinical requirements such as daily injections or dressing changes while home health aides assist with more personal needs such as help with bathing or eating.

Herbert N. Putnam 3rd of West Tisbury died Sunday, March 9, at his home. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, March 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 12 at 11 a.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Cemetery, West Spring street, Vineyard Haven. The family has requested that no flowers be sent but that donations in Herb’s memory be made to Pancreatica.org, 149 Bonifacio Place, Monterey CA 93940.

Who is Maynard Silva, anyway?

Certainly, he is a classic blues man.

Island born and raised, Mr. Silva has appeared on stages on and off the Vineyard for nearly 40 years, his voice a familiar throaty growl.

His public persona is the sheen on a core of enormous strength and wisdom, shaped by time and pressure.

Maynard Silva is the sum of the elements of his life code: tradition, humility, the value of relationships and of mentors. And he has a wriggling delight in our inexhaustible opportunities to experience joy in life.

After logging many long hours on the couch and mindlessly devouring one too many buttery bags of popcorn, the votes are in. No, not for the Oscars, but for the official selections of the eighth annual Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival. The brains behind the wintertime event are so excited about the roster they have decided to host a special kick-off screening more than a week before the festival officially begins.

Island artist Peg Thayer opens an exhibition of her recent paintings at the Chilmark Library on Saturday, March 1, with a reception from 3 to 5 p.m.

The show continues during library hours through March 27.

Peggy Thayer has been a practicing painter for more than 30 years, working in a variety of media including acrylics, watercolors, pastels and oils. Her recent landscapes portray her intuitive relationship with nature.