For many, ringing in the new year is an opportunity to bask in tradition, make a fresh start and resolve to do better in the upcoming year.

The Chilmark Community Church is starting its new year as an independent church, severing its ties to the United Methodist Church earlier this week. 

After 10 years at the podium in West Tisbury, Daniel Waters will close out his tenure as town moderator following the 2024 annual town meeting.

Cameron Snow Godbout was born at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on New Year’s Day at 9:04 p.m. becoming the first Vineyard baby of 2024.

Noel Hogan and Charles Metros, of Aquinnah, announce the birth of a son, Henry Alexander Metros, born on Dec. 31 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital.

Rachel Cook and Emmett Cook, of Edgartown, announce the birth of a son, Ryder Jay Cook, born on Dec. 29 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital.

The conditions were promising for the Christmas Bird Count count — not too cold, not too windy and no fog — as 13 teams fanned out around the Island for the annual check-in with our avian community.

In a new documentary that began filming in December, director Catherine Stewart and her crew of four will follow Shenandoah’s 61st sailing season, the boat's restoration process and the lives of her captains and sailors past and present.

There is a small and welcome display of meteors to begin the New Year. The Quadrantids meteor shower takes place in the wee hours of Thursday morning. The best time is around 3 a.m. and this shower is relatively short. The shower's radiant is under the Big Dipper rising in the Northeastern sky after midnight. While it is not a common shower, the next shower isn't for months, until April's Lyrid meteor shower. So, by default the Quadrantids has some degree of popularity among those who enjoy seeing shooting stars crossing the sky.

Julia Doane and Matthew Dolan, of West Tisbury, announce the birth of a daughter, Rosemarie Julia Doane, born on Dec. 26 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital.