Five Things You Need to Know Today: March 18

Five Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance.

1. The is planning to hold a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) drill today. The exercise is designed to provide airport and Island emergency responders with practical training, and meet FAA requirements. The drill will last from approximately 10 am to 1 pm. During that time you can expect to see and hear police, fire and emergency vehicles, as well as smoke. There may also be some delay is accessing the Airport terminal, parking lots, Steamship Authority Reservations office, Airport Laundromat, Plane View Restaurant and hangars.

2. The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival (MVFF) is screening many films at the this weekend, but this morning they are screening the film Bully. The people at MVFF feel very strongly that Bully should be seen by as many folks as possible, so they are offering FREE tickets to any high school student and ½ off member price tickets to any school administrator or teacher. 10 am.

3. St. Patrick’s Day weekend continues this morning with an Irish brunch at the . For more information, call 508-627-7900.

4. The Trustees of Reservations are holding a Signal Hill Walk this afternoon. Discover 70 acres protected by a conservation restriction situated between Menemsha and Squibnocket Ponds. No dogs allowed. Free to members of the Trustees, $10 for nonmembers, $3 for children. Reservations required. 1 pm – 3 pm. For directions and meeting place, call 508-693-7662.

5. There is an Opening Reception for the “Winter into Spring Painting Show” this afternoon in the Virginia Weston Besse Gallery at . More than 20 painters will present their artwork including Valentine Estabrook, Leslie Baker, Donna Straw, John Holladay, Wendy Weldon, Genevieve Jacobs, Marston Clough, Linda Ziegler, Nina Gomez Gordon, Fan Ogilve, and many more. Refreshments will be served.4 pm - 6 pm. Call 508-693-1850 or visit featherstoneart.org. Continues through March 30.