Bob Jackson’s obituary appearing last week said simply that: “he was active in land conservation projects on Martha’s Vineyard.” This is a classic understatement if ever there was one.

As a summer visitor to the Vineyard for over a quarter-century I have always noticed the changes on the Island, but the character and the beauty of the Island have remained intact and I never thought of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s role.

From the Vineyard Gazette edition of Jan. 7, 1972: What of 1972, upon the track of which we have so freshly started?

In light of questions surrounding the recent lottery for affordable homesites at Nab’s Corner, the Chilmark housing committee has begun the process of revising the town’s homesite guidelines.

Picking up on efforts that began more than a decade ago, a committee in Chilmark is taking another stab at finding a location for a new fire station.

The animal shelter’s record of placements continues. Princess, an elderly female that we thought would continue to be our tenant, was adopted last week and now has a cozy place to put her paws up for her remaining days.

There is a comet in our evening sky you may be able to see this month. Comet Lovejoy has resided in the Southern skies, and has been watched with interest in the lower latitudes since it was discovered last August by Terry Lovejoy, for which it is named.

Vineyard stargazers haven’t had an easy comet to spot in the sky for quite a few years. There have been some forecasted comets but they were a visual disappointment.

Grace Church in Vineyard Haven offers a winter treat on Sunday, Jan. 4, from noon until 2 p.m. when they host a winter lobster roll luncheon.

A dead coyote was found washed ashore early this week on Lambert's Cove Beach, the second coyote to wash up in that location this year. An Island naturalist said the coyote likely came from Naushon, which hosts a large population of coyotes, and drowned.

Onshore winds raised havoc with one of my favorite pelagic species, the dovekie. This little squirt, only eight inches long, is cousin to puffins and razorbills.