In 1908 Charles Gilbert Hine published The Story of Martha’s Vineyard, a collection of geographically based stories of people and incidents around the Island. It’s a well written piece that expresses quite a sense of humor. Mr. Hine was an author of local history and an amateur photographer.

Christmas Eve dinner at the Chappy Community Center saw almost as many attendees as the ferry captains’ dinner. There were lots of kids and plenty of extended family members. We even had folks come over from as far away as North Road in Chilmark. Thanks to all for making it such a wonderful occasion.

Chilmark welcomes the new year with the same demeanor it always has . . . a sort of deadpan look of being the same though different from the preceding years. We look sort of the same and feel sort of the same but of course we are all changed from the year before, and that is the way it goes. Cheers to us all for a healthy new year.

The post-Christmas weather has not been that favorable, really rather grey and overcast days and very cold nights. There were a few days in the high 40s, but they were accompanied by pouring rain and blustery winds. May the New Year bring us another mild winter. Looking back at 2013 — too many changes, but perhaps we will all look on the brighter side and enjoy all the greatness.

What is the real number of snowy owls on Martha’s Vineyard?

The vegetation on Martha’s Vineyard has changed dramatically over time, yet it has also shown remarkable consistency. How can both of these statements be true?

I am writing exactly in between the two holidays. I have a couple of Christmas observations. For starters, my hellebores, a.k.a. Christmas rose, bloomed on Christmas day. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to make that up. It’s tiny and pink and very close to the ground. If it was snowing, it wouldn’t be visible. I’m amazed I even noticed it on my way to open the hen house early that morning.

Also, Violet pointed out that the sun, which came out briefly Christmas afternoon, shone into our living room west window directly on the baby Jesus in the ancient nativity set.

The ukulele (“jumping flea” in Hawaiian) is a small friendly guitar-like instrument derived from a similar instrument brought to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century.

A strong winter storm is expected to begin on Thursday morning, with heavy snow and frigid temperatures. Island schools will have early dismissals on Thursday; regional high school lets out at 11 a.m., grammar schools at noon and the charter school at 12:30 p.m.

John J. Varkonda, who served as superintendent of the state forest for 26 years, died suddenly at age 55. The cause was abdominal aortic aneurysm. Mr. Varkonda was 29 when he assumed the superintendency of the state forest, only the second person to oversee the property.