In an announcement made by Gov. Deval Patrick and the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Island Housing Trust and 43 other community development organizations were awarded more than $5 million in state community investment tax credits.

Coral Shockey and Tom Shockey of West Tisbury announce the birth of a son, Joseph Gregory “Tech” Shockey 2nd, born on Dec. 19 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

The Congregational Church had a successful Christmas Faire and Marian Irving wants to thank all of the people who made it possible. My wife Anna won the raffle basket. She admits that she had forgotten about it with all of the holiday spirit but was delighted to receive it.

Lois Wecker and Sarah Davis Kessler Trust purchased 3 Oxcart Road in Aquinnah from Deborah M. Moore, TRS, Brian K. Yennie, TRS, and Moore Nominee Trust for $2,100.000 on Dec. 19.

Sand mining, the need for community support and a permitting system that some Island fishermen say is flawed and broken were key topics at a recent meeting of the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust.

Tradition, music, food and loved ones were celebrated at fourth night of Hanukkah festivities at the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center. Ljuba Davis’ fourth grade Hebrew Center class even performed a Hanukkah rap drawing applause and cheers.

Staff, supporters and others who had made the new campus possible, celebrated with a ribbon cutting Friday. Designed by Mashek MacLean and built by Squash Meadow Construction, it includes living spaces for men and women.

Ongoing internal clashes at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport are now focusing on an unseen, but costly presence at meetings of the airport commission: legal counsel. Two Boston attorneys routinely participate by phone at a cost of $525 an hour.

A recommendation for restoring the area around Squibnocket Beach was well received at a light-spirited gathering that stood in sharp contrast to an emotional annual town meeting in April.

If you are looking for holiday inspiration this week, take a look in the western sky after sunset. There is a Christmas “Star” in the heavens.

Actually it is the planet Venus, now making its appearance in our evening sky. Venus is brilliant. To the unknowing, Venus looks like an airplane approaching with its landing lights on. Or, if you are into Christmas, the planet looks like the Star over Bethlehem, or maybe the star over Vineyard Haven.