This is sadly a colder winter than last year so far; perhaps the worst is behind us. The busiest place in town on Sundays continues to be Up-Island Automotive, where gasoline is on sale.

Don’t forget to attend Cynthia Riggs’s 26th annual Groundhog Day party tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cleaveland House on Edgartown Road. It is an open house and a great chance to socialize with your neighbors, make new friends, catch up with the latest political happenings around town and experience an enjoyable evening along with lots of fine food and adult beverages. When she first hosted a Groundhog Day party, a few locals showed up and had a nice time. Now it has grown in popularity to the point where people from the mainland and out of state make it a point to attend.

Arsen Hambardzumian of East Taunton was here last Friday to conduct a number of septic inspections in Vineyard Haven. The snow and ice hampered his work and he hopes to return next week when it is a little warmer.

Lois Crane of the Vineyard Transit Authority reports annual bus passes have been available since early January. They are available at the VTA office building in the airport business park from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Seniors may call the Up-Island Council on Aging at Howes House (508-693-2896) or stop in during normal business hours. Lois reports the Islandwide bus system carried nearly 900,000 passengers last year.

Dr. Virginius Bray Thornton 3rd, professor of history at Massachusetts Bay Community College and founding member of the student nonviolent coordinating committee, will speak at the League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyard annual Black History Month breakfast and program tomorrow morning at Howes House. The topic is Women of Interest: Past, Present, and Future. Breakfast is at 9:30 a.m. followed by the program at 10 a.m. A league membership meeting will begin at 9 a.m.

Jennifer Tseng over at the library reports that Sunday hours are from 1 to 5 p.m.

History notes: On Feb. 10, 1948, the annual town meeting voted to accept a gift from Donald R. Campbell, of Old County Road, of the Mill Pond by a standing vote of 56 yes, 16 no. It had been owned and maintained by his family for more than 100 years. Ancient records show that because of its central location and water power, it not only attracted the farmers to grind their grain, it later it became the site of the only textile mill on the Island producing the celebrated satinet cloth. It has also been a favorite spot for skaters for many generations, who cut figure eights beneath the light of bonfires kindled on danger spots where the big brook empties into the pond. The pond consists of two acres of water and the acceptance contained one condition: the town must clean the pond, repair the dam and raise the water level. After considerable debate by the voters, a letter from the Rev. Wm. Thompson, Master of the Grange, was read urging its acceptance and pledging the Grange’s full cooperation and assistance in the clean-up work.

Happy birthday to: Bob Salop, William Deeble, Leah Smith, Rosemary Hoeft, Maria and Camilla Westby, today; James Irwin, Tammy Jardin, Kathleen Murray and Gayle Mone tomorrow; Janet Belain, Ken Francis, Jeanne Ogden and Briana Holt on Sunday; Rita Reynolds, Jose (Ernie) Chaves, Tom Dresser, Fran Paciello and Dylan Greene on Monday; Stan Richards, Emily Rodegast, Klaus Broscheit, Sarah Reekie and Michelle Jasney on Tuesday; Maggie Bresnahan and Ivory Littlefield on Wednesday; Ken Campbell, Richard Olsen, Kathleen Tilton-Clancy, and Jean Morton Fischer on Thursday. Happy anniversary to Ken and Cathy Campbell. Belated birthday wishes to Lucy Hodgson Morse, Emmett Carroll, Julia Wells, Matthew Anniese and Harper Neil Greene.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.