Northeaster Niko arrived on Feb. 9, less than 24 hours after we experienced near 60-degree weather. The predictions indicated it would commence at 9 a.m. on Thursday, however there was a three hour delay and the storm roared in at noon. The highest winds were recorded at 60 mph. The entire town of Aquinnah lost power at around 3 p.m. and the power never returned until 3:30 a.m. Perhaps the irony of it all was the fact that we reside in what was once the town of Gay Head which once was and still is one of the smallest towns in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Regardless of the size (about five square miles) the town was the last to receive electricity and that was on Feb. 9, 1951.

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is offering a variety of programs this month. You can earn your CPR certification at the three-hour course led by Scott Gertsmar on Saturday, Feb. 18. The course will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services board room on the MVCS campus building B in Oak Bluffs. Pre-registration is required; call 508-687-9182.

Island Elderly Housing’s quality-of-life programs for their residents will have a dine to donate at the Tin Hanger Restaurant on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. For reservations, call 508-693-1137. Tin Hanger will donate 20 percent of food sales, takeout as well as dine-in, to Island Elderly Housing. IEH will have a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. For info, please call IEH at 508-693-5880, ext. 12.

The Up-Island Regional School District held their annual meeting with Aquinnah residents at the tribal building on Monday evening with community members, parents, teachers, school advisory councils, Superintendent Matt D’Andrea, and principals Donna Lowell-Bettencourt and Susan Stevens. At the West Tisbury School, the next phase of playground equipment will be installed while fundraising continues. Volunteers are needed to oversee playground duties, bus monitors and dining room attendants. At the Chilmark School, families in the district are encouraged to learn more about the curriculum, class size and sense of community by taking one of the weekly tours for those interested in enrolling their child at the Chilmark School by calling 508-645-2562.

Speaking of West Tisbury School, second grade teaching associate Meghan H. Smith recently received her Master of Arts degree in Art Education from Boston University College of Fine Arts. Meghan had spent the summer of 2015 working in the summer program for the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. She and her husband Adam R. Smith are residents of Tisbury. Adam serves at USCG Station Menemsha.

In the spirit of positivity, thank you to Jane Keenan, R.N. for her very generous donation of handmade hats to the Islanders Talk Benevolent Fund to be distributed to the homeless by volunteers Les and Betsy Holcomb.

Condolences to John and Jennie (Leventritt) Gadowski in the loss of their daughter Victoria. Many of us remember the children’s clothing store Tori’s Togs in Tisbury when Tori was just a toddler.

Condolences to Cynthia Riggs and her family in the loss of her dearly beloved husband Howard Attebery. It was a pleasure meeting him. He was charming and their romance was one we will all remember with a smile.

Congratulations to Naushon Vanderhoop and Vernon Powell on the birth of their second child, Wunotuway Lorraine Vanderhoop Powell, who was born at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn on Feb. 3, weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20.5” in length. She is welcomed home by her sister Nanawusuwee. Wunotuway is the granddaughter of Roxane Ackerman and the late William D. Vanderhoop, Sr.

Condolences to John and Jan Wightman in the death of her mother, Mrs. Pearle Perkins on Feb. 9 at her home in West Tisbury. John and Jan have resided in Aquinnah for the past 40 years but were very devoted to her mother by spending weekends, school vacations and the month of August at their home in Attleboro while caring for Mrs. Perkins.

Happy 43rd anniversary wishes to Mark and Susan Lana Shea on Feb. 23. They were married in a blizzard, with no ferries were running and family was unable to arrive.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Wendy deGeofroy who celebrates on the 20th, and shares the day with Cedric Belain; Lenny Jason, Jr. will celebrate on Feb. 21, as will Anne Fleming Vanderhoop Madison, Brenda Lehman, Constance Iadicicco and Kenan Chaplin; Ginger Martin Duarte will observe her special day on Feb. 22, as will Rita Suarez Jeffers, Chelsea Ives Kelley and Ryleigh Jade Manning who will be six years old; Brian Vanderhoop will be seven years old on Feb. 23 and shares the day with Jeanne Smith Taylor and Donna Nagle. Darren Leport will celebrate on Feb. 25.

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