A new year and a new decade is upon us. I hope you all find positivity and a countless number of things to be thankful for. As we mourn the loss of Chilmark Chocolates we have Salt Rock Chocolates to look forward to in early 2020 which will come to us through the skillful hands of sisters Allison and Sarah Flanders. They won’t have a retail shop for now, but once they’re ready to accept orders the news will travel fast. I’m proud to say I’ve watched these wonderful women, who were my flower girls 25 years ago along with their older sister Genevieve, grow into dedicated and thoughtful humans.

I’m glad to hear Stanley Larsen’s ankle surgery went well and he’s home recuperating per doctors orders. I look forward to the day he circles the shore to say hello even if it’s from the passenger seat. Stanley’s go-to guy at Menemsha Fish Market, Coastguardsman Christian Santiago-Ortega has orders to head west to his new station along the California coast. We will miss his fun loving chatty personality around here, but look forward to hearing about his cross-country drive in the new-to-him Toyota Tacoma and once he’s settled, news about friends he’s made and life on the Pacific.

Congratulations to Monty Buffington who received his heavy weather coxswain certification a short while ago after heading out the channel at the wheel into stormy seas with the USCG 47-foot motor lifeboat. Heavy weather training looks pretty hard core as I watch from the protection and warmth of the Menemsha Texaco Outpost.

Jane Slater’s home should have had a revolving door installed this past week with many family members coming and going. While Caleb, Chris and Celia were in town I had an opportunity to catch up with them as we made ornaments at the Copperworks together with Annalee and Annette Cingle and Scott McDowell among others. Celia is fast approaching the end of her undergraduate education at Mount Holyoke College. Scott, Jack, Sarah (Slater) and Aaron Bennett arrived just after Christmas for a visit too.

There’s a new gal in town and her name is Martha Rose. Weighing in at 109 gross tons and 64 feet, four inches, she’s sitting high and proud along the commercial dock. She comes to us via Barnegat Light, N.J., and will provide sea scallops to us under the watchful eye of Capt. Wesley Brighton. She’s a beauty and we are excited she’s given us something to talk about this winter. Congratulations to Wes, also, for becoming an uncle to sweet little newborn, Nell.

Congratulations to Margaret (Mayhew) and Dominique Penicaud who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Although it wasn’t until mid-December (the 13th I think?) the couple took advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday, drawing 28 family members to the dinner table and turning it into quite the shindig. One granddaughter had to depart a little early and return to Colgate University due to snow, but they understood and reveled as if she were there with them. Cheers to another many years.

With Christmas and New Year’s falling mid week, the school holiday break offered an extended period of time for families to travel. I look forward to hearing stories from all of you who traveled to places like Jackson Hole, Steamboat Springs, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Montreal and more.