KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kcase1@verizon.net)

What can I say? It is winter and we have had everything we can have in one week. On Monday we woke up to a beautiful blanket of white and the plows running to keep the streets open. Then Tuesday night we started with the rain and it went into Wednesday, dissolving the snow. The only reminder is the piles the plows made. Now the wind is howling and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm. Welcome to New England.

Hello, Autumn-Anne

Andrea and Daniel Donnelly of Edgartown announce the birth of a daughter, Autumn-Anne Donnelly, born on Jan. 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds at birth.

Young Writers Recognized

For Their Skill in Writing

Four students at the Edgartown School have received recognition for their writing skills.

Amy Fligor, Maggie Lindland and Hunter Thomas have been recognized through a number of national contests for poetry. Eva Faber recently participated in the elite writing contest sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English called Promising Young Writers.

The 48th annual Martha’s Vineyard Christmas Bird Count was held on Jan. 5. This was an Islandwide event with 69 observers out in the field counting all the birds they could find and another 35 observers counting the birds visiting their bird feeders.

The final results are presented below. We had close to ideal weather, with only a light breeze and temperatures ranging from 23 degrees at dawn to a high of 43 degrees in the afternoon.

Plenty of mild chili, cold beer and warm fun went into the 22nd annual WMVY Chili Contest last Saturday. The fundraiser raised approximately $21,000 for the Island’s charitable organization, the Red Stocking Fund, more than last year’s event.

Big Brother, Big Sister

Of Year Are Honored

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Martha’s Vineyard is proud to announce that Mike McCourt and Jackie Mendez-Diez have been selected as the Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year.

Each year Big Brothers Big Sisters honors two adult volunteers, who have been matched with an Island youth for at least four years, supports the organization by contributing their time, treasure and talents and are ambassadors for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program on the Vineyard.

School Fundraiser

The Edgartown School will sponsor its second annual Midwinter Silent and Live Auction today to raise funds for the eighth grade class trip to Washington, D.C. The trip will cost $33,000.

The event is scheduled at the Oyster Bar & Grill, 57 Circuit avenue, Oak Bluffs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Clarence (Trip) Barnes is the auctioneer. More information is available by calling 508-627-3316.

Car Campaign

The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs in Massachusetts will now accept most any car. Cars will be sold at auction and the proceeds will be used to help the local clubs. Call 1-800-246-0493.

Bee Champion

Eighth grader Andrew Williamson was the winner of the recent 2008 Tisbury School National Geography Bee. He defeated 6th grader (and defending school champion) Barra Peak in the final round. Rayne Bick (7th grade) and Grant Santos (5th) were the other finalists.

The deciding question was: Name the independent country located entirely within the city of Rome. Andrew correctly answered Vatican City. (Holy See also was an acceptable answer.)

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)