Keep off the grass.

Good advice for the grass that is the only type of turf that I would ever advocate for. I am no lover of lawns; wildflowers and weeds are more valuable for the wild things in our neighborhood.

The grass of which I speak never needs trimming. In fact, the attempt to mowit would be something tosee. While it grows rapidly in the spring, it should never be cut atall. No matter, as no one has yet built an aquatic lawnmower.

It is a treat to find young people who are interested in what is happening in the natural world, not the virtual computer world. A couple of days ago I called John Nelson, the science teacher at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, and he answered the phone so that his students could communicate with me. The class, thanks to Mr. Nelson, has access to a spotting scope which is permanently focused on an osprey nest which is located on the floodlights of the regional’s football field. I spoke with three of John’s students. John Cooperrider let me know that the regional’s pair of osprey arrived in early April and that he and the rest of the class have been watching their activities ever since. Tom McHugh noted that the male was much smaller than the female, yet he was bringing fresh herring to his mate several times a day. Tracy Bowker added that she also noted the size difference and also that before the female laid her eggs, both osprey added twigs to the existing nest as well as a plastic six pack holder. The class still doesn’t know how many eggs the female osprey is sitting on but maybe after Dick Jennings and Rob Bierregaard finish their survey of the Vineyard osprey nests this week they may find out.

In this year-long serialized novel set on the Vineyard in real time, a native Islander (“Call me Becca”) returns home after many years away, to help her unstable Uncle Abe keep his landscaping business, Pequot, afloat. Abe has a monomaniacal fear and loathing of Richard Moby, the CEO of an off-Island wholesaler, Broadway Nursery. Recently, Moby unscrupulously took over one Island landscaping business and undercut 5 others, thus re-invigorating Abe to try to “destroy” Moby.

Dale (Goofy) Robinson died on March 21 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Goofy was Dale’s favorite Disney character and also his C.B. handle. In 1981 we teamed as occasional partners, at which time he bestowed upon me the handle of Wildflower.

Edey Grants

Following record requests for funds, the Edey Foundation at its annual meeting in April made grants totaling $73,000 for conservation work on the Vineyard. The Foundation received $146,853 in requests.

Woman of the Year

The Empowered Woman of the Year Brunch will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 at Mediterranean in Oak Bluffs. The brunch honors Cindy Doyle of Vineyard Haven.

Tickets are $50. For details, call 508-696-8880.

When Samantha Cassidy, age nine, was diagnosed with B-stem lymphoma, her parents, Mike Cassidy and Debra Grant, turned to the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, a quiet organization unknown to many Islanders.

AnneMarie Donahue was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988; she became one of the original members of the cancer support group.

Tisbury selectmen this week instructed the police chief to write to town restaurant owners, warning them that they face criminal penalties if they sell alcohol to customers on the sly.

And there was a suggestion that if there continued to be evidence of the practice, police might be brought from off-Island to try to catch them doing it.

An investigation is under way into claims by a Tisbury policewoman that she was sexually harassed by a fellow officer and then subjected to retaliatory action from the police chief and town administrator when she complained about it.

In a detailed complaint, filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) on April 28, Kelly R. Kershaw said she believed her alleged harasser, Sgt. Timothy Stobie, chief John Cashin and the town were trying to force her from her job.

County of Dukes County, ss

To either of the Constables of the Town of Aquinnah:

GREETINGS: