Well this month has been a bugger: cold, snow (including thunder snow), power outages and many boat cancellations. We are heading into a long weekend as Monday is President’s Day. Schools, post offices and town buildings will be closed. School vacation week, for our schools, starts next Friday and many of you will be taking a winter break off-Island. If the weather cooperates we stand to see our first influx of visitors next week: homeowners checking out their property, students answering inquiries about summer jobs and some folks just wanting to see what it is like here in winter. In just 12 days it will be National Pig Day, celebrated by those of us who remain on the rock.

Frank Polagruto of Great Plains Road will celebrate his birthday on Thursday with his wife Celeste and family. Frank, who collects all kinds of music, reportedly will feature Julie Andrews and Jimmy Durante favorites on his website that day. Happy birthday Frank!

The parks and recreation committee is sponsoring a family skate next Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the ice arena. Admission is free. Please bring a snack or dessert to share, drinks and hot chocolate will be provided. Skate rentals will be available; any questions, call 508-696-0147.

Olivia Larsen over at the library reports that Wednesday will be a busy day. From 1 to 3 p.m. stop by for the free wellness clinic with the VNA of Cape Cod. Get your blood pressure checked and get answers to medical questions. All are welcome. Also at 4:30 p.m., Marsha Winsryg will give a presentation about her recent trip to Zambia. Learn about her work with doll makers and creating art with children.

History note: On Feb. 20, 1962, the annual town meeting was conducted in less than 90 minutes at the Agricultural Hall with 80 voters present. The longest debate was over shade trees and a police article. Selectman James F. Alley took a prominent role in support of having $300 appropriated for new shade trees and obtaining approval to have the selectmen serve as policemen with compensation fixed by the annual meeting for such service. The debate was lengthy, with Jack Scannell, Dr. Eldon Mills and John Mayhew speaking in favor while Sheriff John Palmeira, Otis Burt and Donald Fisher spoke in opposition. Mr. Mayhew’s motion to pay $2.50 per hour to policemen using their own cars and $2.00 when they do not was approved. The meeting then voted a sight increase in the police budget to cover the additional expense.

Happy birthday to: Lesley Eaton, Barbara Paciello and Robert Johnson Friday; Marilyn Bergeron, Susan and Robert Wassermann, and Patricia Duffy Saturday; Rose Kelly, Bob Knight, Christina Wiley, Eddie and Mark Hambardzumian on Sunday; Levi Flanders, Krista Martin and Bob Osmers on Monday; Lila Fischer, Gaston Vadasz and May Baldwin on Tuesday; David Bowman, Samantha Church and Stacey Northrop on Wednesday; Tara Lewis, Frank Polagruto, Diane Wall and Caleb and Kevin Carr on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Lenny Jason, Meg Higgins and David Schuster.

Well, that is all the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.