As I write this on Tuesday evening, I’m hopeful that the weather forecast actually comes true on Thursday.

Jannette Vanderhoop, who was recently elected to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission after running a write-in campaign, will serve her first term as councilwoman after she is sworn in on Jan. 4.

Tonight's gibbous moon appears in the zodiacal constellation Leo. The moon is near the main star Regulus. The two rise together before midnight. Look tomorrow night and the last quarter moon appears right under Regulus.

Use these early nights to enjoy the brilliance of the stars and planets without the moon. Venus is low in the southwestern sky right after sunset. It is easy to spot and looks like an airplane approaching with landing lights on.

Farther south and more southwest is the ringed planet Saturn. The planet is pretty bright, though no match for the other planets.

Edgartown

Joshua H. Levinson and Kara Levinson purchased 5 Ogden Lane in Edgartown from 87West Tisbury Road LLC. for $2,750,000 on Nov. 13.

LHL Trust LLC. purchased 5 Llewellyn Way in Edgartown from Stephen M. Carr Trust and Diane M. Carr Trust for $2,994,000 on Nov. 13.

Oak Bluffs

Elizabeth Edge and Lee Taberner purchased 51 Brush Pond in Oak Bluffs from Scott E. Taberner and Karen A. Silva-Taberner for $200,000 on Nov. 14.

West Tisbury

Here’s something to think about over the winter: fire hydrants on Chappy.

Sometimes it’s hard to weave together the uplifting with the sorrow.

Debbie MacInnis and I were going to The Barn in Oak Bluffs along Beach Road to play trivia.

Virginia Jones, a highly-principled member and chairman of the town’s planning board since the mid-1980s, has died.

Since next week is the big day, here is my Thanksgiving story.

Suellen DeJesus Furtado and Joao Furtado, of Vineyard Haven, announce the birth of a daughter, Sarah DeJesus Furtado, born on Nov. 16.