The Chilmark School PTO’s winter’s end dance party and silent auction is this Saturday, March 23, at the CCC. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and all adults are welcome for a $30 entry fee.

If you can’t attend, but want to check out the items up for bidding, they are listed on Handbid. Vacation rentals all over the globe, baked goods, babysitting, various life lessons, dog walking and so much more are up for auction. Bid on it all and you’ll be guaranteed to have one heck of an upcoming year. Funds raised go to the remarkable outing program. Just talk to any Chilmark School alum and they’ll rave about their time with the program.

Lucas Murphy zipped across the sound from Marion on his boat Awesome for a little visit with his mom, Susan. The sun-filled, calm days of mid-March are a real treat to get out and enjoy.

Greg Kurth, one of the 11 Conrad and Georgiana Kurth offspring who called home what’s now the Chilmark School grounds turned 75 last week. Oh happy day.

On March 19, 1969, Emmett and Kathie Carroll and Pat and Joannie Jenkinson were at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. That is the day they welcomed Marshall Carroll 3rd and Patrick Jenkinson into the world. I’m grateful to know both of them and wish them both a happy, happy day.

Birthday wishes go out to, among others, Jay Smalley, Rodeo Purves-Langer, Natalie Francis, Krisite Mayhew, Emma Mayhew, Owen Singer, Aretha Witham, Lynne Silva, Peter Dunkl, Linda McCarthy, Danny Larsen, Elise Elliston, Ken Petkus, Kim Rome, Ingrid Maidoff, Alistair Morgan and many, many more.

Jennifer Burkin will begin a new kids art session at the West Tisbury Library. Geared towards kids 10 to 18, the focus of this session is drawing techniques. The classes are Tuesday afternoons and run from mid-April to mid-May. If you have an aspiring artist be sure to call the library and pre-register them for Jen’s classes.

Way to go Will Diamond. Will is the newly hired general manager of MV Seafood Collaborative on Menemsha Harbor. He will oversee the purchase and distribution of local seafood. As a commercial fisherman himself, he should be a really great fit to the day to day operations.

It’s not often that the death of a goat makes the headlines, but Yvonne wasn’t your typical backyard goat. She was pretty famous in certain circles and will be greatly missed by her friends, family and followers at Native Earth Teaching Farm. She was wise beyond her 10 years.

Scott McDowell and Annette Cingle have returned from their Cancun adventure and are back tinkering daily in the Copperworks shop. Be sure to stop in when the open sign is propped up. There’s always something interesting and new to see, and some piece might call to you and end up gracing your home.

Kris Vrooman reminds us that the League of Women Voters will hold a candidate forum on Thursday evening April 4 at the CCC with a 6 p.m. start time. This is an opportunity for Chilmark residents to hear candidates speak about why they are running for office and what issues they could address, if elected.

JB Riggs Parker was definitely a man who cast a wide net, touching every aspect of the community and then some. He was a father, husband, artist, lawyer, banker, half century resident of Chilmark, selectman and more. Riggs was a force that ruffled feathers, formed alliances and spoke strongly about the things he was passionate about. Although he moved to Rhode Island about a year ago, his name and conservative stance on retaining Chilmark‘s character will always be part of our up-Island landscape. As I said to his youngest son Christian, “The world will be a little quieter without him.”

The daffodils are just about to pop. They’re like little bursts of sunshine. You can never have enough. They bring smiles on even the gloomiest of days. May you find the sight of them an uplift whenever you may need it.