It’s easy to take seagulls for granted. Dyed-in- the-wool birders cringe when they hear that word, as in, “I saw the cutest little seagull from the ferry last week.” Picture William H. Macy in Fargo, that “Geez” look of desperation. It’s because there is so much diversity in the large and global group of birds called gulls.

The temperature in Florida Tuesday was a goosebump-raising 58 degrees, but Island artist Margot Datz was riding shotgun in a convertible and was not about to let the weather foil her plans of a road trip with the top down. “I’m on a teenage adventure at 54,” she crooned into her cellphone while en route from Jacksonville, Florida to Savannah, Georgia.

On April 5, beginning at 3 p.m., the Martha’s Vineyard Museum will host a special afternoon honoring those Vineyarders who fought on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement.

On exhibit in the Council Room Gallery is The Civil Rights Movement on Martha’s Vineyard: A Public History Mobile Museum. Funded by the Mass Foundation for the Humanities, this photographic exhibit is on loan to the museum from the African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard. Board members of the Heritage Trail will be on hand to answer questions about the exhibit.

Spring can be a time of reawakening, recharging and renewing: time to reevaluate exercise goals and get in shape before summer.

Walking is an enjoyable and easy way to get moving. You cannot pass a magazine rack without seeing headlines extolling the values of walking. We are fortunate in that the Vineyard features a number of trails of varying degrees of intensity.

Trails offer respite from the hectic day-to-day concerns. They’re a chance to get out and enjoy the Island at its unspoiled best: a good pair of walking shoes and you’re off.

All five of this year’s Oscar nominees for best animated short film — including the winner, Peter and the Wolf, plus a bonus offering — are on the big screen for Island movielovers this Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Katharine Cornell Theatre on Spring street in Vineyard Haven.

This program includes:

More magic from the Oak Bluffs School drama department, which this weekend premieres the original one-act musical Waking Beauty, A Fairy’s Tale.

This play tells the true story of Sleeping Beauty and the fairy who was not invited to the princess’ christening. The fairy, named Mathilda (pronounced with the “h”), was not evil but more of a magical klutz who had a habit of giving bad gifts. Once the beauty is asleep, the rest of the fairies work to find the princess’ one true love to wake her and the rest of the kingdom.

Soprano Claudette Peterson, formerly with New York’s City Opera, and renowned bass-baritone David Kline, will present a master class for singers at the Martha’s Vineyard High School on Monday. Dan Murphy, director of music at the high school, arranged for the class to give interested students the opportunity to work with these world-class artists and to introduce them to Operafest 2008, a summer program for which Mr. Murphy will serve as choral conductor and accompanist.

Program Offered to Girls

The Adolescent Balance Living Experience (ABLE) offered through the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard for girls ages 11 to 14 is seeking referrals for the spring session which begins Monday, April 14.

Run, herring, run!

Or, rather, swim, herring, swim, to your natal stream. River herring — harbingers of spring — should be back soon, if they are not already.

By LYNNE IRONS

I love Easter. Not only is church filled to capacity, but it is the real turning point between winter and spring. It doesn’t seem to matter that it is particularly early this year. Main street is getting its annual makeover. Especially lovely is the store front of the Two Susans. There is a shocking number of têteàtête daffodils. As I recall, that bed looks spectacular all summer.