On the day she was born in 1932, George Burns and Gracie Allen debuted as regulars on The Guy Lombardo Show. On her fourth birthday, Sonja Henie of Norway became the most successful Olympic figure skater ever by winning her third consecutive gold medal at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen winter games. On her seventh birthday, Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes premiered in New York city and the German battleship Bismarck was launched.

On her 18th birthday, Walt Disney’s Cinderella premiered in Boston. On her 33rd birthday, John Lennon passed his driving test. On her 47th birthday, Billy Joel took home his first Grammy for Just The Way You Are. On her 56th birthday, the United States performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site. On her 79th birthday, Barack Obama awarded writer and activist Maya Angelou the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On her 89th birthday, a major winter storm stretched from Texas to Maine and left three million people without power in Texas alone.

She has experienced and witnessed a lot in her 90 years. She continues to share her voice especially, when it comes to town affairs. I, for one, always appreciate her perspective.

On Feb. 15, we celebrate Jane Slater. If you have her number, call her. If you have her address, send her a card. Her email is slaterjn@comcast.net if you’d like to drop her a note that way. Send a little extra fanfare to this former Chilmark columnist. I think she is a pretty remarkable human.

Thank you to Joe Berini and Ginny Jones for sharing the information that the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be holding a safe boating class called Boat America on Saturday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Tisbury Fire Station. The class will be limited to 15 participants, so register early. The cost is $50 per person, but subsequent family members receive a $20 discount. Please email Joe at joe.auxmv@gmail.com for more details and a registration form.

Speaking of the U.S. Coast Guard, a shout of thanks goes out to Patrick Shanahan and Seth Ford. There was a lone vehicle with its hood up in the Menemsha parking lot just after sunset on Sunday when I arrived at the Texaco to do a little paperwork. It seemed our off-Island guests had a dead battery and needed a jump-start. I offered my jump pack but the driver was leery of portable packs and wanted jumper cables. I didn’t have any so I called the Station and, voila, two young men in blue appeared and lent a hand. All felt good in the world at that moment.

Also, a big thank you from our nameless visitors goes out to Annette Cingle whom I flagged down before the cavalry arrived. She was more than willing to help but, alas, her cables were missing as well. In the passenger seat with Annette was daughter Annalee Hoy who had just returned from a weekend off-Island with friends. It seems there was some cooking involved with her adventure. I didn’t know she had a chef-y streak.

Owen Singer, eldest son of Claire Ganz and grandson of Bob and Ann, has been home for a while. He had eye surgery; he visited with family; he did household chores; and shot the breeze with friends and caught a few waves, too. He has followed his passion of fishing and turned it into a career, making his way onto some sport fishers that took him to far away places. He has set off on a new adventure on a new boat. He will have stories to tell and I look forward to hearing them.

Happy sixth birthday to Dillon Waterman. This kiddo, son of Lindsey Rich and Derek, celebrated in Florida with that famous mouse named Mickey. Also celebrating with him were Chilmark grandparents Kim and Ken Cottrill.

Way to go Eloise Christy, daughter of Jen and Todd, for taking home the win at the Cape & Islands League Indoor Championship in high jump this past weekend at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston. She also had a stellar performance in the 300-meter, grabbing second place.