We climbed off the plane wearing turtlenecks, fleece jackets and hats and were hit by blue skies, sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. We were in Savannah, Ga., on our way to participate in St. Catherine’s Island’s 21st Christmas Bird Count.

“It’s time again to visit with old friends, make some new ones, and count those beautiful birds in the sky, on the waters and in the trees.” So reads the cover page of the invitation to this annual event.

By LYNNE IRONS

Due to the subject matter, reader discretion is advised. This column is written solely for non-vegetarians.

I have not eaten a store-bought chicken in over thirty years. In 1975, my friend Sharlee had a one-eyed, rather deformed rooster. We were just beginning to grow our own food in earnest — that is, for more than just the summer. We had begun canning tomatoes, making pickles, and searching the neighborhood for old fruit trees.

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

Dec. 14 37 29 1.04*

Dec. 15 42 26 .00

Dec. 16 35 25 .71*

Dec. 17 50 24 .68

Dec. 18 30 21 .00

Dec. 19 33 21 .00

Dec. 20 46 30 .18

*Melted Precipitation

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 43º F.

Association Director Resigns

Robert Glover, executive director of the Oak Bluffs Association for more than two years, has resigned.

Dennis daRosa, president of the association, said Mr. Glover has decided to dedicate more time to his consulting business, which requires off-Island travel. With insight, grace and humor, Mr. daRosa said, Mr. Glover has helped the association grow and expand its mission. He will stay on as executive director until a successor is selected.

By all accounts it was a great wedding — but not everyone was invited.

The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce this week made substantial changes in how it communicates with members in the aftermath of hurt feelings following a visit to the Island by wedding magazine writers. The October tour featured a mock wedding at the Gay Head Cliffs.

Some chamber members reacted with anger at not having the opportunity to be included in the event. They vented privately at the annual meeting soon after and more publicly recently.

By all accounts it was a great wedding — but not everyone was invited.

The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce this week made substantial changes in how it communicates with members in the aftermath of hurt feelings following a visit to the Island by wedding magazine writers. The October tour featured a mock wedding at the Gay Head Cliffs.

Some chamber members reacted with anger at not having the opportunity to be included in the event. They vented privately at the annual meeting soon after and more publicly recently.

State auditor Joseph DeNucci delivered a hard blow to the Massachusetts Estuaries project this week, releasing a highly critical audit report on the multi-million dollar project managed by the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth to study the health of ponds and estuaries on the Cape and Islands.

The Massachusetts auditor’s report found undocumented contract costs, no-bid contracts and a potential conflict of interest in the project, a sophisticated scientific study begun in 2001 of more than 60 ponds and estuaries from Duxbury to the Cape and Islands.

Over the past month, the old Navigator restaurant that formerly sat in the center of the Edgartown Harbor has steadily been torn down to make way for a new mixed-use building called the Boathouse, that among other things will feature a members-only club on the second floor.

When the new project is completed - perhaps as early as this spring - it will offer a fine dining restaurant, several private dining rooms, a large sitting room with fireplace and cathedral ceilings, as well as new dock area with several classic boats for member use.

Concerned the Vineyard will be locked out of participation in a restored federal fishery, a small group of Island commercial fishermen went to a meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council last month to make their plea for some part of the future pie.

Today only one Island fisherman, Gregory Mayhew of Chilmark, is permitted to pursue cod, haddock and yellowtail in federal waters.

Cheryl Andrews-Maltais believes she has been elected to run a troubled nation.

As chairman of the tribal council for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), that effectively means she is the chief operating officer of a sovereign state, and the public leader of a culture and of a citizenry of 340 on the Island and hundreds more living off Island.