Spring sports began this week as boys’ tennis and girls’ lacrosse played their first matches of the season on Thursday against Dover-Sherborn. Scores were unavailable at press time.

Boys’ lacrosse takes on Fairhaven today at home at 4 p.m. Track and field hosts Abington in a dual meet beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

What follows is the first in a two-part preview of the spring sports season. Next week will spotlight girls’ tennis, baseball, softball and sailing.

After successfully incorporating Island-grown produce into the salad bars and prepared meals in Vineyard schools, high school cafeteria director Bernadette Ms. Cormie turned her attention to local meat.

“I wanted to get meat, somehow, but I wasn’t sure how to do it,” she said.

Last fall Ms. Cormie began her job working for Chartwells, the food service provider at the high school, and bringing local meat into the school “was one of the top ten things I wanted to have happen.”

Twelve-year-old Liam F. McCarthy of Vineyard Haven was honored last Saturday at a fundraising dinner at the Holy Ghost Society in Oak Bluffs. Through the efforts of many, the dinner raised $5,000.

Liam and his family were seeking financial help to cover the cost of a walking aid, a device that will make movement easier, plus a three-wheeled bicycle. Neither purchases are covered by insurance, his mother Kelly McGuiggin said. For her, the evening dinner offered hope.

Several Vineyard winter sport athletes have been named to All-Star teams in their respective conferences.

In boys’ basketball, captains Izak Browne and Jack Roberts earned Eastern Athletic Conference honors for the second year in the row. Girls’ basketball captain Jennie Lindland also repeated as an All-Star, and was joined by senior teammates Katie Stewart (also a captain) and Maggie Riseborough.

Have you made plans yet for the April school vacation? The Minnesingers have — they are headed to Croatia to perform five concerts.