Blue skies, sun and temperatures reasonable for this time of the year. At least the climate is not that of what is going on in Washington, D.C.

The destruction at our nation’s Capitol building a week ago is still unnerving to many of us. We may all look forward to the inauguration and welcoming in of President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a new beginning after four years of shaking our heads on a daily basis while wondering what was really going on.

Jannette Vanderhoop will present virtual yoga on Jan. 16 as part of the Aquinnah Public Library winter program. You still have time to sign up by going to jmatejcek@clamsnet.org.

Sapiens-A Brief History of Humankind will be a community book discussion with the library on Zoom. Sign in for the book group on Jan. 16 at 10 a.m.. To register, please go to aq-mail@clamsnet.org.

Congratulations and all the best to Christopher P. Manning upon his return home over the weekend after being in Artesia, N.M. for the past three months for federal law enforcement training at the United States Indian Police Academy through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His graduation ceremony was on Jan. 7. Chris is now well-versed in federal law and will continue his duties as a tribal ranger/police officer for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and follow in the footsteps of his father, Aquinnah police Sgt. Paul Manning, and his great, great grandfather the late Capt. Walter Manning, a police commissioner for the Town of Gay Head (now the Town of Aquinnah).

Congratulations to Noah J. Manning for high academic achievement for the first trimester 2020/2021 at Falmouth Academy and earning a place on the head of school list.

Congratulations to Billie Diamond Vanderhoop Shephard on her achievement of being on the all-A honor roll as part of the eighth grade team for the second quarter at Horace O’Bryant School.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Donald DePriest who passed away on Jan. 9. Don was a classmate of many of us at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Class of 1964. He was an outstanding member of the basketball team as well as serving on the football team throughout his school years. He will be greatly missed.

Condolences to the family and friends of Marcia Hope Merrill who passed away at her Tisbury home on Jan. 4.

Abdiel Gonzalez celebrated his eighth birthday on Jan. 14; Chuck Downing parties on Jan. 17; Lisa Herrick will observe her special day on Jan. 18, sharing the day with Tyler Jeffcoat, India Rose and Jesse Wiener; Sarah Shipway, Carrie Anne Vanderhoop Bellis and Abbie Steele share the day on Jan. 19; Captain Gordon “Todd” Bassett parties on Jan. 20, as will Holly Pretsky; Mark Owen Shea will be 11 years old on Jan. 20; Catherine Deese celebrates on Jan. 21 and shares the day with Wendy Stone. Catherine Hall will party on Jan. 22.

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