JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Word has reached us of the birth on April 6 of Lucy Tower Churchill in Los Angeles to Elizabeth Day and John Churchill. Her two brothers, Freddy and Bobby, and her grandparents, Bob and Barbara Day, of West Tisbury, welcomed her. Lucy and her family have deep roots in Chilmark where her Blackwell ancestors were the first summer residents at Quitsa. We look forward to her first Vineyard visit in August.

We all send best wishes to Fred and Ellie Littleton who have moved to a retirement home. Ellie hopes to be home from the hospital soon to join Fred in their new home at Mayflower Place, 579 Buck Island Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673-3253. They wish to thank all their Vineyard friends who have offered prayers and best wishes. We shall miss them.

Last week I was happy tell you about the first sunbather at Squibnocket beach ... a seal ... and now, news of the first nudi spotted at Menemsha! Okay, the correct name is Nudibranch, of the species cuthona gymnota. It is a small sea creature looking like a shell-less snail but a great find for naturalist and author Brian Cassie, of Foxboro, who happened to find several off the dock at Squid Row on Sunday morning. For the record, they were feeding on hydroids stuck to the dock. Never a dull moment when you live by the sea! You might like to Google Brian as he has written a number of books about nature, some for children, that have been well received.

The Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council will host its annual community input session on Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.. at the Howes House in West Tisbury. The public is invited to come and make suggestions for the coming year.

The Women’s Symposium will gather on Saturday, May 2 at 9 a.m. at the Chilmark Community Center for a morning of talks concerning Coping.

Judge Norman Stahl and his wife, Susan, were their Tea Lane home for a spring visit.

Robert and Bill Vincent were at the family home on South Road this week for a brief visit. Bob will be back for his annual May vacation. The brothers live in Schenectady, N.Y.

We send condolences to the family of John L. Newbold who died in April 2008 and was laid to rest on April 18 at Abel’s Hill Cemetery. His wife, Judy Newbold; his daughter Jennifer Newbold and her husband, Ned Freeman; his son Tim and his wife, Lisa Yang; and his son Mike and his wife, Beth, and their families survive him. The Newbolds’ home is at Abel’s Hill and Summit, N.J. He was known as Jock to his many Chilmark friends who miss him.

Ed Walsh, new chef and manager of the Home Port Restaurant, tells us he will be opening the popular landmark on May 18 this season.

The Yard, Chilmark’s dance colony and more, will have their first fund-raising event of the season on May 13. The Sweet Life Café in Oak Bluffs will host a prix fix menu with wine and they will host Alex Gambal, winemaker, who will introduce and instruct about wines. Please call 508-696-0200 for more details.

Last reminder: Town meeting is on Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the community center. Warrants are available at town hall, the gas station or the library. Check it out, come and vote!