For Rick Karney, director of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, 2008 is becoming the Year of the Blue Mussel.

In recent weeks, Mr. Karney’s group has received positive news about the prospects of raising blue mussels in local waters.

While the Island group already raises juvenile bay scallops, quahaugs and oysters for participating towns on a regular basis, the organization also is participating in a blue-mussel experiment that could expand aquaculture to the open water.

It was an up-and-down week for the Vineyard’s high school sports teams.

The boys’ hockey team won a pair of games to inch closer to a berth in the state tournament, while the girls’ basketball team lost both a blowout against an unknown opponent and a tight game against a familiar rival. Meanwhile, the girls’ hockey team shook off a slow start and began to show potential, while the boys’ basketball team won a game by 30 points and lost another by a single bucket.

Boys’ Hockey

Fish Talk

Fish, Fish, Fish will be the topic of Louis Larsen’s talk at the next Friends of the Library speakers bureau at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at the Vineyard Haven library. Mr. Larsen is the owner of the Net Result. Refreshments will be served following the talk.

Tonight’s crescent moon appears low in the western sky after sunset in the zodiacal constellation Aquarius. The moon reaches first quarter phase on Tuesday and is in the zodiacal constellation Pisces.

Curl up in the early winter dark and enjoy classic American literature as part of the new travelling Islandwide reading group called Fictions of Race in 20th Century America.

JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Bone-chilling cold opened the New Year. But as Mark Twain said, “If you don’t like the New England weather, wait five minutes.” This week the weather was better than seasonable. Some business establishments had their doors wide-open during the day, people and joggers were dressed in T-shirts and shorts, and strangers were practicing golf in the agricultural society field.

JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Greetings from Chilmark where the January thaw is much appreciated. The mild weather has stimulated lots of activity in the bird world. I hope the birders had a successful count last week. The resident flock of crows in Menemsha recently spent the day cleaning out our house gutters . . . we think they spotted something green growing there.

JUNE MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Go, Hillary! Keep up the momentum. I will be opening the Aquinnah Clinton campaign headquarters.

Happy New Year to one and all. So many of us are starting the year with this exasperating virus that has been going around, but spring is just around the corner. May this be a year of good health, happiness and prosperity.

The American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, will organize an extensive number of adult, infant and child review and first aid classes. They will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard YMCA at Cottager’s Corner in Oak Bluffs.

The four-hour adult CPR/AED class costs $45. The certificate is valid for one year. The class is offered on any of three Saturdays: Jan 12, Feb. 9 or March 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or on Monday, March 24, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Mature Workers

Want to get back to work? The Mature Workers Program of Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands Inc. has openings in its Bridge Back to Work Program for income-eligible people 55 and older. The program offers paid work experience and skills training. More information is available by calling 888-394-4630 or 508-394-4630, extensions 134 or 138.