Windswept, a new novel by Kate Hancock, opens with the story of Josiah Cook, a farmer on Chappaquiddick who in the late 18th century witnesses pirates burying treasure on the beach.

Hope O’Brien became interested in handbells as a young girl growing up in the Berkshires. Although her parents were in a handbell choir, young Hope couldn’t touch them until she entered high school. Since then she has never been without her bells.

The Old Whaling Church was filled with harmonies this week as the 115-member Island Community Chorus practiced for its annual holiday concert, which takes place Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. This year's program features lighter fare than previous concerts, including a bouncy arrangement of Jingle Bells.

The larger of two barns at the town-owned property leased by the Farm Institute has a failed roof and water has been leaking through. This week selectmen awarded a contract for replacing the roof that covers the 8,400-square-foot barn.

Saturday's full moon still carries a lot of punch when it comes to brilliance. You'll see it rising in the east, a short time after sunset. Tonight's moon resides on the edge of the zodiacal constellation Taurus.

The brassy notes of a trombone, French horns, and trumpets greeted onlookers as they crowded into Post Office Square on Wednesday night for the annual Oak Bluffs tree lighting. Later there was hot chocolate and Santa came too.

On Wednesday morning, representatives from Home & Garden Television gave a tour of the latest Dream House to be given away in early 2015. The house is on Crocker Drive in Edgartown and all the artwork was sourced locally.

There is lots of room to roam in the cat room for the only two occupants, Nala, a two-year-old beauty and our new resident, Princess.

My beloved nephew Robert Walter Christopher Heine-Manning passed away in Falmouth on Tuesday morning unexpectedly.

Some people say that they are allergic to the holidays. I believe that I truly am. Every year about this time, I come down with some sort of turkey fever.