Immigrants around the country and around the Island closely followed President Obama’s speech last Thursday when he unveiled a set of actions on immigration.

Massachusetts has become the first state in the nation to put a ban on commercial food waste entering landfills. Larger businesses on the Vineyard are preparing for the changes, and businesses and residents are feeling the need for more composting regulations.

Islanders can expect to see their electric bills go up this winter, with Cape Light Compact and NStar both announcing increases in electricity costs beginning as early as December. Utility companies said the price increase can be attributed to a growing demand for natural gas paired with pipeline constraints.

Herbert Slater, who died last week, was one of a dwindling group of men who took part in the now largely forgotten harpoon fishery that made Menemsha a major source of swordfish landings on the East Coast in the fifties, sixties and seventies.

A grand reunion of Irish Jack Russell terriers met on the beach Nov. 21. It was the fourth birthday of five from the second litter of Murphy, owned by Fan and Dog Ogilvie of West Tisbury. Murphy came to the Ogilvies from Ireland when she was seven weeks old, hand carried by Doris Ward, who has three IRTs herself. All the puppies from both litters went to Island residents and many families stay in touch through Murphy's puppies.

Thanksgiving when I was growing up always meant a different assortment of extended family members congregating at different homes.

Vineyard fishermen no longer pursue cod in these waters. The fishing boats plying these waters left years ago. Cod are gone.

I really think that fall’s colors were more brilliant this year, the reds and yellows much happier against the deep blue skies. Maybe they seemed that way to me.

The Executive Office for Administration and Finance eliminated funding in FY 2015 legislative appropriation, including funding for shellfish propagation in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.

When people think about what they have to be grateful for in their lives here on Martha’s Vineyard, few would argue that a good home is near the top of the list.