As I sit here on Wednesday morning, I thought perhaps I was hallucinating but tiny snowflakes are flying and already sticking to the ground. Oh well, we had a heat wave over the weekend with the temperature in the 50s. Crocuses are in bloom mid-Island and before we know it, spring will be here, but what a winter it has been.

Have you noticed how quiet it is around town? Half the population is very wise and vacationing in rather warm places.

The late Nanetta Cassandra Wilhelmina Vanderhoop Madison wrote the Vineyard Gazette Gay Head column for many years. She would often remark on the number of people who attended Community Baptist Church each Sunday. So, this past week the last service of February 2014, there were 13 souls in attendance at the 9 a.m. service conducted by the Rev. Ellen Tatreau. We are looking forward to a few new members who will be joining us in late spring. All are welcome to attend.

Ms. Tatreau serves at First Baptist Church in Tisbury as well. Their congregation would like to invite one and all to join them at the First Baptist Church for Shrove Tuesday on March 4 at 6 p.m. in the parish house on William street. There will be a pancake supper and service with a brief closing service to start the Lenten observance. Enjoy the fellowship, crafts and games. For information, please call 508-693-1539.

A lot of local talent will be performing on Saturday, March 1 at 6 p.m. at the potluck jam at the Chilmark Community Center. Admission is free and please bring a dish to share.

Condolences to the family and friends of Otis Burt who passed away this week at his Oak Bluffs home. Otis built numerous homes in Gay Head and Aquinnah. In the 1970s he would share his knowledge and philosophy with us most afternoons at the OV. In the 1990s, Otis was the general contractor for the building of the affordable housing units on the Aquinnah tribal lands. He is survived by his brother Richard Burt and his sister Shirley Burt Howell, as well as his former spouse Ann Burt and their children Percy, Prudy, Molly and Patrick, as well as his grandchildren, nieces and nephew. Private services have already been held.

Dr. Thomas Green was at his Aquinnah home over the weekend with a friend. It’s always a pleasure to see him around town. Edward Harris and his daughter Chelsea returned to California on Wednesday, following the service for grandmother/great-grandmother Grace Hughes Frye. Grandson Ralph Harding returned to his home in New York. Services were conducted by Ms. Tatreau and the Rev. Roger Spinney at Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funereal Home in the middle of the snowstorm. It was attended by many of Grace’s neighborhood friends of many years.

Congratulations to Ella Madison Mahoney, daughter of Julianne Vanderhoop and Michael Mahoney, who has made the dean’s list in her freshman year at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Ella is expected home this weekend for a brief winter break.

Due to those frequent age-related illnesses, it was another afternoon at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital emergency room for me. First, I need to thank the young gentleman, Cliff, who saw that I was struggling and needed assistance. He immediately went in to get a wheelchair and assisted me to the reception desk. Thank you, Cliff, otherwise I would have been run over in the parking lot. Next, Mary Lou was very kind in realizing the severity of my illness and immediately informed the nurse. To my rescue once again, Betsy Feil VanLandingham cared for me as professionally throughout my six-hour stay as she always has over the past three decades. Dr. Katherine Stedman asked, listened, analyzed, compromised, and negotiated with me all afternoon, with a somewhat better outlook than I would have imagined. And finally, to Tnisha Chandler for assisting me with a ride home and assisting with errands. Thank you, one and all. This may slow me down for a few days, but by the weekend I will be off and running again.

Happy 38th anniversary wishes to Kenneth and Janet Belain and happy first anniversary wishes to Nick and Susan Bologna as they celebrate today.

Happy 45th anniversary wishes to Al and Cookie Perry as they celebrate on March 1.

Happy birthday wishes to Dora Morrow as she observes her special day today. James Millman will be 11 today. Hmmm, my friend and fellow Vineyard Gazette sharer of all news that is fit to print, will celebrate her special day for the next three days as she is a Sadie Hawkins Day baby and her actual day of birth only rolls around every few years. Happy birthday to Tiara Lee who shares the day with Heather Ferreira and Joanne Eccher on March 2. Kathy Noble Case celebrates on March 3 and shares the day with Janis Wightman and Malia Bodnar. Bob Rosenberg celebrates on March 4 and shares the day with my daughter, Sharon Spiller. March 5 is a day of celebration for Ruth Rocha, Wendy Andrews, Helene Hall and Charles Vanderhoop. David and Douglas Seward will party on March 6. Aron Jackson parties on March 7.