Exhibits of snowy owls, seashells and hand-carved birds by artist Bob Durgin will be held this Sunday, April 26th  through Saturday, May 2nd from 11am to 4pm @ the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newbuyport.   Enjoy!

Mark your calendar!   Spring Invitation Night in Newburyport is scheduled for Friday, May 1st & Friday, May 8th from 6-9pm in downtown Newburyport and at the Tannery.  Newburyport’s Spring Invitation Nights are a wonderful opportunity to do something special with friends and family.  Newburyport welcomes visitors and locals alike to jump start the spring season in style.  Start planning now - and spread the word to your friends and neighbors!  For more information contact Pam Marrese @ 978-462-6680 x11 and Happy Shopping!

We currently have three homes that could be ready by summertime!  These homes are at frame and ready for your personal touch.   Where better to be than on the North Shore close to area beaches, hiking, golfing,  and of course historic downtown Newburyport.  Please visit Maureen at the sales center Thursday - Monday from 11-4pm or call 978-462-0055 for more details.  www.oceanmeadow.com

The “First Annual Earth Expo” will be held on Sunday, April 26th from 11AM - 3PM @ Maudslay State Park Arts Center Barn.   There will be over a dozen green artisans with tables displaying and selling their work.  For more information contact Ari Herzog @ ari@ecocollaborative.org

Patriots’ Day is a public holiday celebrated on the thrid Monday in April, which commemorates the battles fought at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, which marked the start of the American Revolution.  Patriots’ Day was enacted as a legal holiday in 1894 and is observed in both Massachusetts and Maine, which was formerly a part of Massachusetts.  Prior to 1969, Patriots’ Day was observed every year on April 19th. 

A Boston tradition held on Patriots’ Day every year is the Boston Marathon.   Today is the 113th running of the Boston Marathon.  The marathon beging on Main Street in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and ends at Copley Square in Boston.   Best of luck to all of today’s runners!

Now that spring is upon us, it’s a great time to get back to nature.  Why not take a drive to Plum Island (it’s just 4 miles from downtown Newburyport) and walk on the beach, or take a drive through the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and bird watch!   In the early morning or late afternoon on Plum Island, mammals such as the beaver, white-tailed deer, red fox, and river otter are often seen as well.  Drive all the way to the end of the refuge and your at Sandy Point State Reservation, one of the most beautiful spots in New Engalnd.   Why not pack a lunch and enjoy the scenery!

If you’d like to learn a little more about Newburyport and it’s history, visit the Custom House Martitme Museum located @ 25 Water Street in downtown Newburyport.   Housed in the restored 1835 granite Custom House, the museum exhibits artifacts from Newburyport’s rich maritime history as a major shipbuilding center and seaport, sending ships to the Far East and around the world..  Admission charged.  Visit www.thechmm.org or call 978-462-8681

Spring has finally arrived and we are starting to think about our community garden.  It is still a bit early to start planting, but not to start planning.   Stephen Gillis is working to fine tune the details and will be meeting with homeowners in the upcoming weeks to further discuss their needs.   Stay tuned for further details.

The West Newbury Open Space Committee has put together a booklet that features trails in West Newbury.  If you like to walk and hike and would like to know where to go, pick up a copy at the Ocean Meadow Sales Office.   We are open Thursday - Monday from 11-4pm.   You can also visit www.westnewburyopenspace.net for more information as well.

On Saturday, April 18th, 11-4pm (with a rain date of April 19th) there is a “Flower Market” @ Bartlet Mall in Newburyport.  Fresh Flowers, Music, Mural Painting, Eco Info Center, Green Building Tour!   For a 10 day calendar of events go to www.newburyportEarthDay.info or contact the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce @ info@newburyportchamber.org for more details.  Spring is finally here!