Christmas has come and gone, unless you observe Orthodox Christmas. The tree is still standing despite the cats and the ornaments. No sign of snow as it has been hovering near 50 degrees all week. There was one evening of torrential rain and one would certainly wonder if that had been snow rather than the rain. Oh well, onward to a happier and healthier New Year for one and all.

Aquinnah Public Library will have a snowman cupcake day on Saturday. Stop by to assist Barbara Lampson in making the snowmen. Enjoy the new rug in the children’s section.

ACE-MV has announced a scholarship offered for a social justice project with Fitchburg State University through ACE-MV. A college credit course beginning on Jan. 24 with applications due by Jan. 14. The classes will be taught by Lynn Ditchfield with guest instructor storyteller and author Susan Klein, who will offer a five week enrichment class with ACE-MV titled Public Speaking and Microphone Use. Her classes will begin on Jan. 20. For further information and to register for classes, please email lynn@acemv.org, or telephone 508-693-9222.

Carrie Anne Vanderhoop Bellis and her daughter Rosalie, who turned five years old on Dec. 17, arrived on Dec. 19 from their home in Masset, B.C., to spend a few weeks with her sisters Tiffany and Nanauwe as well as her father David Vanderhoop and her extended family members.

Did you catch a glimpse of Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop’s Vineyard Seadogs Calendar on the Today Show on NBC Monday morning? Louise DuArt of Edgartown provided one of Lisa’s calendars to her friend Kathie Lee Gifford, and during the segment it was admired by Hoda and Kathie Lee. The February page was shown to viewers with a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day — referring to the red box of chocolate Labs rather than the edible chocolates, noting that every single page “will break your heart.” The orders are pouring in to Lisa as of this writing.

Of course, I received one calendar from Lisa as well as one from Charlotte Cook and Craig Rakela of Sacramento, whose little Chloe appears on the June 2015 page. Other great calendars received in our household over the holiday are the Martha’s Vineyard Cats by Lynn Christoffers and the Birds calendar by Sarah Mayhew.

Books to be enjoyed with a Vineyard flair received for the holiday include Shirley Mayhew’s Looking Back, Cynthia Riggs’s Victoria Trumbull’s MV, The Immigrant by Alfred Woollacott 3rd, Amy Poehler’s Yes Please, and the Pollan Family Table by Corky, Lori, Dana and Tracy Pollan with the forward by Michael Pollan — great winter reading and sharing of all.

Olive and Violet MacPhail are now the proud friends of a rabbit they received under their tree. Word in the neighborhood is that the name is Pickle Jar, but has yet to be confirmed.

All the best to Peter Perez and his family who have moved from Aquinnah to the Cape after returning to town from New Hampshire a year or two ago.

Capt. Hugh Taylor and Jeanne returned to their winter home in the Caribbean on Christmas Day after having spent the holiday with their family at the Outermost Inn.

Naushon (Beth) Vanderhoop and her two-year-old daughter Nanawusuwee spent the holiday with her sister Diamond (Ellie) Vanderhoop. While home, Naushon celebrated her birthday on Dec. 26.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Lang Gerhard on Dec. 28 who shared the day with Barbara Sunderland Smith. Charlotte Bologna celebrated her third birthday on the Dec. 29. Olive Mae and Violet Jeanne MacPhail celebrated their ninth birthday on Dec. 30.

Karen Truchon Altieri parties on Jan. 1. Dr. Timothy E. Guiney, my most favorite cardiologist in the world, celebrates his special day on Jan. 2. Donald Widdiss will party on Jan. 2. Cody Coutinho, Evelyn Vanderhoop and Chris Fischer all share Jan. 3. Stephen P. Silvia will party on Jan. 4 as will David Duarte. Alexander James Milavsky parties on Jan. 5 and shares the day with Francis Brown. Kaitlyn Joy Vanderhoop will be nine on Jan. 6. Nancy Cotton will observe a major milestone on Jan. 6. Sonya Mayrand parties on Jan. 8 and shares the day with Ava Louise Dubno who will be one year old. My dear friend Ann Burt will observe her birthday on Jan. 9, having recently been hospitalized and hopefully feeling much improved.

Send your Aquinnah news to: junemanning152@gmail.com.