It’s been a wonderful holiday season for most of our shelter residents. Guinea pig, Maple, left Christmas Eve and was a happily received present.

Like planets, constellations can come and go.

Of the four northern species observed this week, the snowy owl tops the list.

How fun it was to wake up Christmas Eve morning to a tiny dusting of snow. I’m not sure one would call it a white Christmas but it was pretty close.

Beginning Jan. 4, the West Tisbury Library will offer four free Pilates classes on alternating Fridays from 4 to 5 p.m.

The Christmas cheer has subsided and now New Year’s winks at us from around the next corner with its hats and noisemakers, bubbly and midnight kisses.

Kathy Spiegelman and Robert Zverina purchased 24 North Slope Lane in Chilmark from Adriana Forte and Sergio Modigliani, trustees of the Modigliani trust, for $1,317,500 on Dec. 14.

Gerqueias Pereira and Gedeone Oliveira, of Vineyard Haven, announce the birth of a daughter, Olivia Rodrigues Braganca deOliveira, born on Dec. 20.

Meghan Hotte and Zackery Bonner, of West Tisbury, announce the birth of a son, Maverick Dean Bonner, born on Dec. 19.

An Edgartown man is being held without bail after being arraigned two weeks ago on charges of violating an abuse prevention order.