JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

We have not had a tough January like last year; the average daily temperature has been about normal when you factor in the near spring-like temperature, though we did have stormy weather on Monday, when wind gusts topped 60 mph. The line at the Up-Island gas station was long most of Sunday, with people taking advantage of the special price of fuel.

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Chilmark has enjoyed a few days of the annual and always most welcome January thaw, just slight but ever so pleasant ... days of bright sun and some warmth. However, the winter temperatures are coming back this weekend.

Chilmark has many connections to Haiti these days and I have tried to collect some of the stories for you.

JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Aquinnah Public Library will sponsor games on Thursday evenings through March. Gather around the round table and enjoy a game of Scrabble, Monopoly or other board games on a cold night, with a warm lively discussion with family and friends. Refreshments will be served from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Tonight the gibbous moon appears next to the red planet Mars. The two rise together in the east, as the sun sets in the west. Mars is brilliant, brighter than at any time in the past two years. The moon and Mars are in the zodiacal constellation Cancer, a sign we associate with spring.

HOLLY NADLER

508-274-2329

(hollynadler@gmail.com)

This column is being sent from Heaven. No, I haven’t died although, as the Island’s ghost hunter, if anybody is going to file a story from the Other Side, I guess I’m the woman for the job. In fact, let me make this promise to you: If while crossing Circuit avenue I’m hit by a truck, you will hear from me: how do you like them shivers?

KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

I heard the expression “Welcome to New England” after almost every forecast this week because it was beautiful today, and tomorrow will snow, then freezing cold. I know we complain about it a lot, but we always find ourselves back here in New England.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. I did not get the list of school children’s birthdays this month, so I apologize and send special wishes to all of them.

Tom Hodgson of Tiasquam road in West Tisbury once again reports the year’s first snowdrops, this time by e-mailing the news along with this photograph.

Hilary Russell Minot of Boston and David Anthony Capato of New York city were married on Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Edgartown, where they met at a clambake five years ago.

The couple said their special vows to each other on this sunny Saturday at the Federated Church, where the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Dr. Jerry Fritz.

The ceremony was followed by a dinner dance at the Edgartown Yacht Club, where guests enjoyed themselves from sunset to midnight, dancing to the ever-enticing band, Sultans of Swing.

Aiming to preserve the Denniston House, home to the Island’s first African-American church, the Island Affordable Housing Fund this week announced a partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP to raise the money needed to pay off the mortgage on the Bradley Square property in Oak Bluffs in the next six months.

T. Ewell Hopkins, executive director of the fund, said his organization owes about $700,000 on a note with the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank. The property is located on the corner of Dukes County and Masonic avenues.