Tuesday evening we experienced a light dusting of snow necessitating plowing and sanding of the roads across town. and a sign of just how cold it is in Aquinnah: the formation of ice castles at the spring pipe near the herring creek with vertical structures frozen in place and time.

As we enter the new year, Covid has finally arrived in Aquinnah with five cases being reported after having been relatively unscathed during the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Fortunately, no one has required hospitalization.

The Inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20 was a welcome event that was long awaited for. Thank you to President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris for the peaceful week.

Thank you to Danny and Marie Larsen for having a lighted peace sign for all to enjoy in the front yard at Beetlebung corner. A welcome sight in these times of such global turmoil.

Zach Macey has returned to his sophomore year studies at Proctor Academy after having an enjoyable winter break, learning to drive and earning his driver’s license as well as mastering his culinary skills for family and friends.

Bonnie Menton offers Vinyasa Flow live stream, via MV Yoga Barn on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. Please sign in to register at MV Yoga Barn.

Across the channel at USCG Station Menemsha, congratulations to BM1 Colleen Wilson who took the oath to serve for three more years in the United States Coast Guard, having already completed eight years of service. Her swearing in ceremony was at the lighthouse at Aquinnah circle, being sworn in by Senior Chief Justin Longval, accompanied by BMC Stephen White, MKC Nathan Dlabaj, MK3 Brody Schilling, SN Patrick Shanahan, and SN David Galan. Colleen performs her duties well at the helm of the 47-foot motor lifeboat yet looks forward to learning how to drive in snow as she has always resided in the south. I know she will master those skills as well.

Congratulations and all the best to SN David Galan who spent his final days at USCG Station Menemsha this week. David has received his honorable discharge, after having served at Menemsha since July 2017. He has great plans for his future back home in California, including college, work and spending time with his family. David will be greatly missed, especially for his strong work ethic and his cheerful outlook.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Joan Gentry Patadal who passed away this week at the home of her daughter Beatrice in Oklahoma where she has resided for the past two years. Joan was the daughter of the late USAF Major James R. Gentry and Beatrice Vanderhoop Gentry. She is survived by her daughter Beatrice and her family as well as her sister Barbara Gentry. Joan was the sister of the late Russell R. Gentry. She was the valedictorian of her class at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, went on to Boston University in the hope of going on to medical school, worked at Massachusetts General Hospital for a number of years, attended college in Utah, worked with her family at their store on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs, was the director of the Title IV cultural enrichment program for the Wampanoag Tribe in the 1970s, until illness slowed her down considerably. Joan was always a strong advocate for Native American rights. She held a wealth of knowledge, knowing every line of hundreds of movies, as well as the uncanny knowledge of every answer to Trivial Pursuit. Throughout her four decades of illness, she never lost her sense of humor. She will be greatly missed in Aquinnah. Services will be held at Chapman, Cole and Gleason on Jan. 30, with social distancing due to Covid.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Barbara Jones who passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on Jan. 20. She was a popular educator and mentor to many over her career.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Dennis Redican who passed away at his home over the weekend. Dennis was a friend to many across the Vineyard and a mentor to quite a few. His larger than life presence will be greatly missed.

Happy Birthday wishes this week to David Vanderhoop and Mary Vanderhoop as they share the day on Jan. 29; Keyshawn Devine will be nine years old on Jan. 29; Christopher Camacho parties on Jan. 30; our up-Island Council on Aging outreach worker Bethany DeBettencourt Hammond will observe her special day on Jan. 31; Emmett Carroll will observe his special day on Feb. 2; Sally Listro parties on Feb. 3.