Well, last weekend was seasonable and it felt that spring was around the corner. However, snow on Monday bought us quickly back to reality. We have passed National Pancake Day. It is mighty quiet around town and a lot of people are leaving for a winter vacation. Don’t you think that finding a deer asleep in your neighbor’s backyard is something a bit unusual?

Workers have begun to reinstall the pews and other furniture in the church sanctuary. The last time that happened was during the remodeling project of 1960. They plan to hold Sunday services there starting Feb. 23. The sun is now setting at 5:10 p.m., and we have just one more month of standard time before the switch to Daylight Saving Time.

A packed house, nearly 75 people, attended Cynthia Riggs 26th Annual Groundhog Day party last Sunday. It was a great chance to socialize with neighbors and friends, catch up with the latest political happenings around town and have an enjoyable evening with delightful food and adult beverages. The political season has begun. Candidate for re-election to the finance committee Gary Montrowl and Tara Whiting, town clerk, were busy circulating their nomination papers.

Sal Laterra of Providence, R.I., visited with Phyllis Meras of Music street last weekend. He got to shovel some of her snow before he returned home on Tuesday.

Jane Coakley reports that her husband Max Skjoldebrand was sworn in as a U.S. citizen yesterday at Faneuil Hall, with family and friends watching from the gallery. Congratulations!

Tara Whiting reports that so far candidates for re-election are the only people who have filed nomination papers to run for office. All nomination papers must be submitted to her by Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. The annual town meeting is April 8 and the town election is April 10 (polling hours are 12 to 8 p.m.). The last day to register to vote in the annual election and town meeting is March 27.

Ed Konicki of Webster, was browsing in a bookstore in his neck of the woods last week and discovered a July 9, 1955 edition of Your Weekly Cape Cod Guide including Martha’s Vineyard. It cost four cents to mail it back then. It is much like a chamber of commerce guide loaded with information about the Cape. The Island page is listed under the heading of North Tisbury. It recommends visitors to the Cape to take a side trip to the Island. You had three options to get here from the Cape: the steamer from Woods Hole operated by the Massachusetts Steamship Authority, the Catherine Tek from Hyannis, or you could fly over from Barnstable airport for $5.95 per person.

On this day in 1942 Congress moved ahead standard time in the United States by one hour in each time zone, imposing Daylight Saving Time — and called it war time. The idea was suggested by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a means to conserve fuel. Its origin could be traced to temporary legislation during World War I.

Thursday marks the 41st anniversary of the nomination of pitching legend Satchel Paige to the hall of fame. He was the first veteran so honored from the old Negro League. Satchel was also well-known for his sense of humor and observations on life, including: “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you” and “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

On Feb. 10, 1948 the annual town meeting voted to accept a gift of the Mill Pond from Donald R. Campbell of Old County Road 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 grists of grain, but it also later 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. The pond consists of two acres of water and the acceptance contained a condition — the town must clean the pond, repair the dam and raise the water level. After considerable debate by the voters, a letter from Reverend William 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 Tom Dresser, Lillian Dimarto, Jose Chaves and Dylan Greene today; Emily Rhodegast, Sara Reekie, Clay Edwards and Michelle Jasny tomorrow; Maggie Bresnahan and Lisa Van Horn on Sunday; John Scanlon, Ken Campbell, Richard Olsen, Kathleen Tilton-Clancy and Jill Napier on Monday; Elaine Barnett, Elizabeth Carr, Kate Warner and Dianne McDonough on Tuesday; Paul Thurlow, Alley Estrella, and Harold Lawry on Wednesday and to Kathleen Tackabury, Catherine Minkiewicz, Lynn Hoeft and Nicolas Peters on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Barbara Day.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call me, or email me at alleys@vineyard.net. Have a great week.