Happy New Year. Polar vortex is the phrase of the week and has taken over the global warming we experienced for a while. The temperature went from 54 degrees on Sunday to 17 degrees on Monday. Even the salt water is at a freezing point. The beach plum bushes have the worst burning from the salt water that I can ever remember. The erosion continues along Lobsterville Road. It’s just a good week to stay in and work on those New Year’s resolutions.

Tobias J. Vanderhoop was sworn in as tribal council chairman on Saturday in a brief ceremony attended by his immediate family and by his dynamic campaign team. Also sworn in were tribal council members Shelley (Devine) Carter and Clarence Alvin (Al) Clark.

All the best to Judy (Swartz) Jardin, who will be retiring over the next week as Aquinnah town treasurer, a position she has held for the past nine years having formerly been a treasurer for the town of Chilmark and a selectman for the town of Tisbury. Judy will be moving to Delaware for the winters, at least for now, to reside near her daughter Roxanne Sordi and her husband Dr. Mark Sordi, and especially her granddaughters Samantha, Celina and Brianna. She promises to return for our Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School half-a-century reunion in October, the class of 1964 of which Judy was the valedictorian.

The Aquinnah Public Library will have a Legos build-a-thon on Saturday, Jan. 11, as well as a duct tape pencil holder craft project. Thursday, Jan. 16, Giulia will be the storyteller at 3:30 p.m. in the absence of Barbara Lampson. During the months of January and February, the library will forgive your fines in exchange for donations to the Island Food Pantry. Bring in your canned goods, prepackaged meals, paper goods, hot beverage mixes, condiments or personal care items such as shampoo, toothpaste, soap and more. For those of you on Facebook, the Aquinnah library has a survey regarding hours. It takes less than two minutes to complete, but your thoughts are invaluable.

A grand thank-you to Santa’s helpers who made the Aquinnah Christmas party such a success — Nancy Benoit, Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop, Amera Ignacio, Nonie Madison, Theresa Manning, Molly Purves, Nonie Smith, Marjorie Spitz, Alexandra Taylor, Noli Taylor, Jamie Vanderhoop and Adam Wilson.

At the Martha’s Vineyard Museum this week, a staff tour will be conducted by executive director David Nathans, who will show you the current exhibits on display at the museum. He will reveal his favorite objects in the exhibits. The tour will be on Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. On Friday evening, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. will be PechaKucha Night at the Harbor View Hotel in the Menemsha room. Presentations thusfar for the evening include Ellie Bates with haiku poems read to photos, TJ Batts and Lauren Ricks with children books set on Martha’s Vineyard, Nat Benjamin on boat building, Anna Edey with an environmental presentation, Nis Kildegaard will present a history of the Harbor View Hotel, and Ilka List with a relief sculpture of dream images. This is always a fun evening for all ages. The Oral History Workshop at the Museum has been rescheduled from January 18 to February 15.

I enjoyed a New Year’s call from Max and Cheryl Batzer, who were on the Vineyard to celebrate the holiday.They must have left when the blizzard arrived.

Thank you to Taylor Chisholm, who assisted during my recent emergency room visit.

Sincerest condolences to the family, friends and numerous former Martha’s Vineyard Hospital co-workers of Geraldine Davis Cronig who passed away at her home. Services were held on Monday in Oak Bluffs. Geraldine was one of the longtime nurses on acute care. She was admired by all for her professionalism. Over the years, she cared for five generations of our family, who appreciated her knowledge and personal care.

Condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Kenneth Edelin, who passed away in Florida this past week. His book Broken Justice chronicles the choice he made while protecting a woman’s right to choose. I have fond memories of the gathering at the home of Dr. Leslie and Adrienne Hayling in East Chop to support Dr. Edelin in his efforts and to assist with his defense fund. It was encouraging to see him over the past decade at events in Oak Bluffs.

Beatrice Patadal returned to New Jersey after spending Christmas with her mother Joan (Gentry) Patadal, as well as her aunt Barbara Gentry. Bea was accompanied home by Naushon Vanderhoop and her daughter Nanawusuwee.

I was delighted to hear from Lynn Vera. She reads my column each week. We worked together during the summer of 1975 at the Ocean View. Her father, Joseph Vera, still resides in Oak Bluffs. Her grandfather was an attorney, well known and admired by many Vineyarders, who went on to become Judge Vera from New Bedford. On occasion, Lynn and I catch up with each other.

Condolences to the families of Scott Francis, Nicholas Linfield and John Potter.

Happy birthday this week to Gloria Fisk, who will be honored on her 80th birthday on Jan. 11 by four generations of her family with a party this evening.

Sunday will be the day of celebration for Gordon Perry, who marks a major milestone, Pam Glavin, Alex Mayhew, Caleb Hallett and Priscilla Belain. Holmes Widdiss will celebrate her first birthday on Jan. 11. Jocelyn and Dillon Woods will celebrate their eighth birthday on Jan. 13. Brian Athearn, Marilyn Manning and Edie Baker all party on the 13th. Megan Woods will party on Jan. 14. Faith Vanderhoop and Carol Mayrand share the day on Jan. 15. Chester Cook and Derrick Mays share Jan. 16. Orrin Thomas Sheehan will celebrate his first birthday on Jan. 16.