Island year-round business owners, canny survivors of the Ides of March (not to mention January and February), offer these practical tips about Vineyard winter business:

• Start a winter savings account in the summer. If you’re serious about staying open, put money away.

• Be consistent. Let people know your winter hours and be open when you say you will.

• Look for energy and labor savings

• Be disciplined about inventory. Use just-in-time ordering.

The Steamship Authority has ordered a replacement for one of the main generators on the ferry Island Home following a string of malfunctions which have disrupted service.

The ferry missed eight trips in December alone, according to the boat line. Through the month of November, 13 of its 3,146 scheduled trips had been cancelled — nine due to breakdowns and four due to bad weather.

The Dukes County Health Council has announced openings for new members in 2008. The council has vacancies in its consumer, public official and health care practitioner categories.

Membership on the Dukes County Health Council requires attendance at a monthly meeting and active participation in at least one of its committees.

The council is a coalition of community members, public officials, health practitioners and health organizations working together to promote community-wide health and wellness.

The Ritz Cafe, a well-known family-owned tavern on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs, is under agreement to be sold.

The buyer is John Reveruzzi, a Connecticut businessman with ties to the Vineyard. Mr. Reveruzzi is a part owner of David Ryan’s restaurant in Edgartown and the Sugar Shack, a Caribbean pub and eatery on the Oak Bluffs harbor.

The Ritz has been on the market since November, said Janet King who, along with her siblings, has managed the bar for the past 28 years.

Oak Bluffs police received a call on New Year’s Day from a women who reported the unlikely combination of a fire and domestic violence at a residence on Beacon avenue.

But when police responded, they came across something entirely different. They eventually confiscated 70 pot plants while arresting a local man on charges of cultivating marijuana.

Announcing Kauan

Giscella and Diego Martins of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Kauan Nunes Martins, born on Dec. 12 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. He weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces at birth.

Hello, Lea

Andrea Finlay and Myron Maynard of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Lea Madison Maynard, born on Dec. 26 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces at birth.

Corrections

A story in the Dec. 28 Gazette about news stories in 2007 misidentified the town in which Chickie the rooster and his owner reside. They live in Vineyard Haven.

•

In a story in last week’s edition on David Belcher, the first name of Foster Silva, the original superintendent at Cape Pogue and Wasque for The Trustees of Reservations, was misspelled. Also, Route 28 in Falmouth was misidentified.

•

Hello, Caleb

Lauriete Miller and Ubaldo C. Miller of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Caleb Nunes Miller, born on Dec. 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Caleb weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces at birth.

Hello, Ethan

Esther and Alan Hartmann of West Tisbury announce the birth of a son, Ethan Riley Hartmann, born on Dec. 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Ethan weighed 6.7 pounds at birth.