As we begin the new year, the skies have been grey and overcast, wih occasional showers, a crisp cold in the air and temperatures dipping into sub-freezing during the night. We are waiting to welcome the sunshine and blue skies back once more this season. 

Aquinnah town clerk Gabriella Camillieri will be sending out the annual street listing next week to every residence in town. Please complete the entire form. You may apply for the 2021 dog license at the same time. If by chance, you do not receive the form in the mail, please call Gabriella at 508-645-2304. You may return your completed form by mail or in the drop box at the town hall. This information is vital for many statistics across town.     

Beginner knitting will be held at the Aquinnah Public Library on Jan. 12 and Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Supplies will be available for contactless pickup at the library. To register, please email jmatejcek@clamsnet.org. 

Get-well wishes to Kuhpay Vanderhoop who underwent orthopedic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital over the weekend. Of course, he was accompanied to Boston by his parents Durwood and Jamie Sue Vanderhoop.  

Congratulations and all the best to Reverend Raphael Warnock on winning his seat as the new Democratic Senator for the State of Georgia.  Reverend Warnock is the spiritual leader at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and has led worship at First Congregational Church of West Tisbury as he and Reverend Cathlin Baker attended divinity school together.

Congratulations and all the best to Helen Green, R.N. on her retirement Jan. 3., after working at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for the past 40 years, mostly as an emergency room nurse but also working in personnel for a stint as well as infectious control officer. Yours truly found it fortuitous to be Helen’s final patient on her last 12-hour shift, as she was a part of the trifecta dream team with Patricia Gazaille and Elizabeth Reid. Helen will be available per diem for four-hour shifts in the future but for now, she is hitting the links at Farm Neck.   

Congratulations and best wishes to Brian Reed on his retirement Jan. 7, after working at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital laboratory for the past 39 years, at times serving as laboratory director. He will be enjoying his retirement with his wife Diane, who retired earlier after her many years at the hospital. We were all part of the hospital staff in the 1970s and 80s, working in adjoining offices and often assisting each other in our daily schedules.  

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Nicholas Bibko who passed away in New York on Jan. 1.  Nick was the father of Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop and her brothers William and Edward. He enjoyed his many visits with Lisa and her husband, captain William Vanderhoop, over the years. Nick was predeceased by his wife Neva in 2002. Services will be held when the pandemic subsides and his family can gather.    

Sincerest condolences to Daniel Larkosh and his father Edward Larkosh on the loss of brother and son Christopher Larkosh on Christmas Eve.  Services were held Jan. 2 at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven.

Happy 18th anniversary wishes to Spencer and Jamie Thigpen as they celebrated on Jan. 4.   

Belated happy birthday wishes to Zuzu Sauer who celebrated her fourth birthday on New Year’s Eve. Belated wishes to Jennifer Christy who celebrated on New Year’s Day, and to Paul Sutherland and Molly Magee on the 7th. 

Nancy Joslow Hawes will party on the 8th. USCG BM2 Joel Behr will celebrate on Jan. 9. Ann Burt will observe her special day on Jan. 9.  Happy 14th birthday wishes to Hayden Higgins on Jan. 10, sharing the day with Lenny Polucci. Gloria Fisk parties on the 11th, as will Moryn Widdiss who will be 8 years old. 

Gordon Perry celebrates on Jan. 12, sharing the day with Jessie Dlabaj, Alex Mayhew and Priscilla Belain. Jan. 13 is a day of celebration for Brian Athearn, Marilyn Manning, Edie Baker, Michael Anthony and twins Jocelyn and Dillon Woods. Megan Rajala will party on the 14th as will Jocko McCarthy, Tanya Larsen, Ralph Seferian, and Jennifer Sanborn. Faith Vanderhoop and Carol Mayrand share the day on Jan. 15. Thomas Murphy and Chester Cook share the 16th.