There are daily experiences of Island life, such as being on a first-name basis with just about everyone, that become routine so gently we are hardly aware of their idiosyncratic aspect. We take for granted having to wait in a line of cars while a boat is hauled across the road, or seeing swooping gulls open scallop shells by dropping them on the road in front of us, or knowing that when we get out of a movie at 10 p.m., the only place to go is home. But the cherry on top of this quirky Vineyard confection is our town post offices.

Tracing your family tree is the theme at the Introduction to Genealogy workshop with Kay Mayhew on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum.

Farmers share their experiences at a Slow Food farmers brunch on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center.

Contra dancing has a long history in New England, so grab your partner and come to the Portuguese American Club on Vineyard avenue in Oak Bluffs on Saturday, Feb. 8. Join the Flying Elbows and caller Kansas Brew and don’t worry about a partner or your past dancing snafus because experience isn’t required.

Tickets are $10 for adults and kids dance free. You can purchase tickets at Mocha Mott's, Sail Martha’s Vineyard or at the door.

This is a benefit by the Rowing Club for Sail MV.

The high school theatre and music departments are performing Cats this year at the Performing Arts Center at the regional high school with shows on Feb. 13, 14, 15 and 16.

The Animal Shelter is pleased to announce the adoptions of two of the cat population, Lucky, a large male tabby, and Bootsie, aptly named as she sports four white paws. Jackson, the fluffy white bichon frisee, who is the foster dog of one of the Shelter’s volunteers, remains on live-in status with her. We hope he proves a good companion and will remain there forever.

This visitor was of the animal variety, specifically a tortoise, but clearly not one native to the Island. In fact, its homeland couldn’t have been much farther away.

The Island's only Medicare-certified home health agency has been struggling financially and has agreed to sell its operations to Cape Cod Health Care.

I cannot recall such a yo-yo weather pattern. It’s 40 degrees one day and seven degrees the next. It’s difficult to get myself oriented.

Carefully and slowly wending our way around switchbacks and hairpin turns we arrived at the Koke’e Natural History Museum just before 8 a.m.