State Rep. Tim Madden congratulated Andrew McHugh for being elected delegate to represent Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in the 62nd Annual Student Government Day at the State House in Boston. He joined over 300 of his peers from around the state in participating in a unique hands-on educational opportunity.

Students were assigned seats as constitutional officers, court justice or member of the General Court. Mr. McHugh was assigned to Rep. Madden’s own seat in the House chamber.

Earth Day 2009

When Earth Day began, few people had heard of Chernobyl or Bhopal. Instead of cell phones, we had a cold war. Nelson Mandela was in a South African prison, for there was apartheid not wi-fi, or even many personal computers. The Berlin Wall was not yet down, the Clean Air Act was not yet law. On the shores of a Great Lake, the Cuyahoga River had somehow caught fire, such was the concentration of oil, chemicals and other oozing environmental hazards there.

Oak Bluffs business owner Dana Hughes is fascinated with smart marketing. “Like fantastic window displays, things people will remember ... in this economy, you have to have somebody remember you. That’s hard to do,” said the owner of Hair by Dana, one of the anchor year-round businesses on Circuit avenue for 15 years, shortly after she closed her shop in mid March.

Girl Talk

There is a nice pond in my backyard garden on Centre street. When I preface the word “pond” with “goldfish“ your mind and eye make an instant adjustment, and from imagining cattails, ducks, pinkletinks, swamp iris and the wildlife that comes to drink at a pond, the reader thinks “oh, goldfish” and sees a few nice rocks, maybe some water lilies or hyacinths, and a couple of ornamental frogs.

Women Empowered is proud to announce the first Empowered Woman of the Year Award. Nominations are now being accepted for the woman whose attributes and activities improve the lot of others on the Vineyard, either by her deeds or character.

Nomination forms are available at the following locations: Kiddo’s, Martha’s Closet, Alley’s General Store, Secret Garden, Espresso Love, Rainy Day, online at women-empowered.org, or by request at 508-696-8880. The deadline for the receipt of nominations is April 30.

Summer Jobs

The West Tisbury parks and recreation department is looking for Red Cross-certified lifeguards, swim instructors and tennis attendants for the summer. There are also openings for beach sticker seller and parking lot attendant. For information and an application contact the department at P.O. Box 278, West Tisbury MA. 02575.

“We’re All Done Now”

From Gazette editions of April, 1984:

When Jeff Norton stands up in front of town meeting, something happens. It’s hard to explain, but anyone who has ever been to a town meeting in Edgartown knows that Jeff Norton has the ability to make a town meeting fun. He reads the long, boring language in the warrant articles like an auctioneer. He stands on the stage of the old Whaling Church, scuffing one foot like a schoolboy while he waits for a couple of voters to argue it out.

Depression Therapies

Nicole Barlett will talk about neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) and how they affect mood, on Tuesday, April 21 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Tisbury senior center. Apart from medication, there are many other ways to support our well-being. All are welcome and there is no charge.

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I’d like to thank all the Tisbury voters who attended two long nights of annual town meeting. Town meeting is the forum where major town issues can be debated and decided, and, as the saying goes, the world is run by those who show up. Shame on those who didn’t bother to participate.