Well, the polar vortex visited once again. Freezing temperatures have returned, but the blizzard that was supposed to be really was not that bad after all. The snow swirls around the backyard leaving it with just a slight dusting and the roads are getting cleared. Thank you to all the emergency crews and snow plow operators. The snow does mean great sledding for the little ones to enjoy. Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Yvette (Szekely) Eastman who passed away at Bellevue Hospital this past week at the age of 101. Yvette was a longtime summer resident of East Pasture and the widow of our dear friend and neighbor Max Eastman. Yvette was a very amazing lady who chronicled much of her life in her book Dearest Wilding. Her kindness and generosity extend far beyond the confines of Aquinnah and Manhattan. Yvette is survived by her nephew Charles (Chip) Young of Aquinnah. Condolences to the family of friends of Sharon Edell. Sharon arrived on the Vineyard in 1978 and spent three summers working with Ken Rose and the rest of us at Gay Head Sightseeing as a tour guide. Former co-worker Alby Rose noted that Sharon can also be credited for literally changing the fabric of the pro shop at Farm Neck Golf Club, taking it to a much higher level in golf wear. She was a very talented and beautiful lady.

Condolences to the family and friends of Henry Fauteux who passed away on Saturday at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Henry was the eldest of nine children, most of whom we attended school with, and now the next generations are friends as well.

Condolences to the family and friends of George (Sonny) Jackson whose services were held this week. Sonny groomed our array of poodles and Lhasa’s for years.

Condolences to the family and friends of Mary (Betty) Oliver Ortiz who passed away recently. She was a multi-generational family friend and very active with the Legion auxiliary.

Congratulations to Derrill Bazzy and Philippe Jordi who were honored at the state house for their work in community preservation. They were accompanied to Boston with Aquinnah town administrator Adam Wilson and enjoyed a wonderful tour of the state house with Rep. Tim Madden, Sen. Dan Wolf and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo.

Get well wishes to fellow Vineyard Gazette columnist Nancy Gardella as she heads to Massachusetts General Hospital this week for major surgery. A card will do for now as she recuperates.

It was nice to run into Thad Hyland over the weekend. He was here to spend time with his daughters Eleanore and Genevieve. He also surveyed his Aquinnah home and reviewed the repairs to be done in spring. Thad is enjoying his work in California.

Congratulations to retiring Aquinnah town treasurer Judith Swartz Jardin, who was honored on Thursday with a retirement party. Most of the Aquinnah town employees were on hand for the champagne toasts, the pot luck luncheon, and her gift of a wampum wall hanging created by Joan LeLacheur. Judie will be headed to Delaware by the end of the month.

Get well wishes to Sean MacPhail as he recuperates at his home from recent orthopedic surgery. His recovery thus far has been smooth, but definitely no sledding for him.

Dan and Nonie Sauer returned home on Tuesday after spending the long weekend in San Francisco to attend a food show. We look forward to their delicacies when 7-A reopens on April 1. Their sons Waylon and Amos enjoyed the weekend with their grandfather Jeffrey Madison, as well as outings with their grandmother Angela Waldron.

Captain Brian (Chip) Vanderhoop and his wife Elaine Diotima Vogel recently returned from a trip to Germany to visit her family in the Black Forest. They enjoyed the Christmas shops, great food, tastes of beer and grog, and unbelievable fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Jerry Wiener and his wife Carolyn Feltz returned from their holiday trip to New Jersey to visit family and friends. Their son Jesse and his wife Maggie spent their holiday with her family on the Cape this year. They have returned to their new abode in Los Angeles. Thirteen ladies from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 1964 gathered over the weekend for an overnight at the Mansion House as well as dinner at the Chowder Company, and congratulatory tidings to Judie Swartz Jardin, and to Shirley Medeiros Donaroma who retired from Edgartown National Bank after 32 years. Those of us in attendance included Wendy Andrews, Kathy Luce Duys, Bertha Viera Madeiras, Carol Magee, Pamela Brown Martisauskas, Eleanor Fischer Neubert, Barbara Sunderland Smith, Barbara Thomas Murphy, Judith Frank Vunk, Angela Waldron and yours truly. We had a champagne toast, Wendy and Pam entertained us with their ukuleles and special songs for Judie and Shirley, yellow roses for the retirees, and a cake for each of them. We are sure we solved many of the problems around the world, surely those on the Vineyard at least. Plans are in the making for our 50th reunion (everyone gulped when I mentioned half a century). We are looking for a few classmates. Please let Bertie Madeiras know your mailing address and telephone number by emailing her at bmadeiras@yahoo.com. Belated happy birthday wishes to Roy Hope who celebrated on Sunday. Happy third birthday wishes to Ivan Pawwinnee Vanderhoop on Saturday, and to Louis Paciello as well. Adriana Giles Ignacio celebrates on Jan. 27 while at her winter home in Utah. David Vanderhoop will party on Jan. 29 and shares the day with Mary Vanderhoop and Keyshawn Joseph Devine who will be two years old. Lois Craine will celebrate her special day on Jan. 30 and shares the day with Chris Camacho and Gimili Glavin.

The West Tisbury School’s Fourth Grade Theater Project is performing two community performances of their original production Shakespeare Strikes Back this weekend. The performances are Friday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 25, at 4:30 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. Admission is free. Please consider bringing a food item for the food pantry.

Aquinnah Public Library will have a master craft class on Saturday, Jan. 26, at noon in candle making. The library presents Biscuit on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 3:30 p.m. with stories, games and fun for all. Refreshments will be served.