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1 week ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
If you’ve been to any of the 63 National Parks, you know already that it’s more than just a pretty place; it is an awe inspiring experience. Most weeks I try to keep my column focus on you, but occasionally I just have to share a little bit about me. I’ve set a goal to visit each of the National Parks. Yes, there are a lot. Yes, some of them are a challenge to get to like Gates of the Arctic in Alaska that requires a charter plane to access.
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2 weeks ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
Dark gloomy, clouds have lingered overhead all but masking the sun. What we all want to see is a blue sky, yet what we’ve seen in various shades of gray with the occasional ray of sunlight peaking through the clouds. Raindrops, as tiresome as they can be, hold positivity within their sogginess.
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3 weeks ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
It seems like we should be so far removed from the nighttime glow of artificial light, but in reality it surrounds us. It can cause tremendous difficulties for critters, the environment and us humans. Humans are messy creatures. One of the pollutants we create on a daily basis is something we can easily get a handle on: light pollution. As I have mentioned before, a couple of my favorite spring pastimes are listening to the pinkletinks and tracking the return of the osprey.
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4 weeks ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
I saw my first osprey yesterday. It was a glorious spring sight and, despite its altitude, hard to miss with all the noise. The pinkletinks are back singing as well. At this time of year it’s habit to roll down my windows while driving through the corner at Brandy Brow. Such a melody those little frogs willingly share. If you need a boost to the spirits, I suggest the simplicity of rolling down your car windows.
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1 month ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
The weather starts to get warmer, the sun shines a little brighter and life seems full of new beginnings. While it might be a bit hard to elaborate on the feeling you get when you hear the first cacophony of pinkletinks, spot the first crocus, see a seal pup sunning itself or smell the briny salt air the warm sun brings, it’s not hard to quietly enjoy these little pleasures. Although the days are getting longer and the air warmer, it’s still hockey season.
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1 month ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
Beware the ides of March. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. In March, the brave crocus dares the snow. As the flowers bloom in March, let your dreams blossom too. March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers. I could go on and on sharing noteworthy quotes about the month of March as all seem magnificently appropriate with March seemingly the most transitional month.
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1 month ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
March is here and our shoes are laced up for what’s typically the month where a meteorological smorgasbord is served. Warm, cold, rain, sleet, snow, sun, wind and any other term that describes the weather is something Mother Nature will consider dishing out. She’s preparing us for the vernal equinox that will arrive on our doorstep in about two weeks time. It’s the month of odd jobs and projects. It’s the month that preps us for what spring will bring.
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1 month ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
When my kids were at the Chilmark School I was readily in the, so-called, loop when it came to the highs and lows of their school days. Now that they are in their twenties, I rely on friends in the school system, those with little people or the little people themselves to share things that might peak the interest of the community as a whole. Before departing for vacation, I was lucky enough to get the Ms. Jackie 4/5 classroom update courtesy of communicator extraordinaire, Mary Ambulos.
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2 months ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
Phone calls, texts, emails, social media posts and knocks on the door were the various ways the world came together to celebrate Jane Slater’s 93 birthday. Ninety-three is not just a commemoration of years lived, but a tribute to a life dedicated to family, community and history. I join the countless others in expressing deep gratitude for her contributions to the world, and I raise a toast to a dear friend I will continue to learn from. Jane wasn’t the only one to celebrate a birthday on Feb. 15.
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2 months ago | 
vineyardgazette.com | Katie Carroll
When I was a child, Valentine’s Day was always something to look forward to. It was a day when we brought cupcakes and cookies to school. It was a day when we spent the morning exchanging cards (my favorites were always adorned with Snoopy) with classmates and teachers. It was a day when we cut out red and pink paper hearts to adorn the classroom windows. It was a day when paper doilies became a memorable part of the day’s artwork.
