The week ahead offers a rare opportunity for those who have never seen the distant planet Uranus. Uranus is only barely visible to the unaided eye, but can be seen with binoculars.

Winter break always has been a time for reconnecting with old friends, convalescing from the scars of another year and, for a select few, settling old scores on the ice at the annual alumni hockey game. While some participants may have added pounds and wrinkles since their glory days, the years had done little to diminish the skills of the high school’s former frozen heroes on display at Sunday’s game.

He who makes really, really, really big swords will be appearing at the West Tisbury library at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31. Actually, these are not just big swords. These are the biggest swords the world has ever seen.

West Tisbury native Michael Craughwell built a sword that is 8 feet, five inches long. It weighs 54 pounds. And you thought your Island neighbor with the chicken coop and hogs was doing something cool.

If you look up libraries on Wikipedia, you’ll learn that a golden age arose from 1600 to 1700 when cities all over the world had to erect a big, baroque building for books. If there’s ever been a new claim for a golden age, it’s right here, right now, involving our Island libraries, all of them, where circulation is up as never before (25 per cent at the Edgartown library alone), and community participation is off the charts.

Review Your Rumi

The poet, Sufi mystic, theologian and jurist known as Rumi will be the subject of the three-week study group at the Vineyard Haven Public Library starting Tuesday.

Jim Norton, aided by special guest Demaris Wehr, will lead the series Conversations about Jalal al-Din Rumi, Persian Poet.

The workshop will study Rumi as a familiar outstanding religious figure among world religions, exploring the Persian and Muslim contexts of his work.

First, Salute the Sun

All are welcome at a free New Year’s Day Yoga Class to benefit the Vineyard House, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the the Yoga Collective at Island Cohousing, 11 Rock Pond Road in West Tisbury.

Join Jane Norton and Mollie Doyle to start the year right in both body and karma.

For directions and more information, visit theyogacollectivemv.com.

Talkin’ Otters

Wildlife biologists Luanne Johnson and Elizabeth Baldwin are hoping Island hikers will be on the lookout for otter trails and slides in the woods this winter. The two are studying the Island’s river otter population with a goal of mapping otter habitat and understanding the diet of these aquatic mammals — the top predators in our coastal ponds.

Bashes to Bruches,

Bring in New Year

It’s time to get out your party wear, buy the goofy looking 2011 glasses and ring in the New Year Vineyard style. But waking up with glitter in your hair from the night before isn’t the only way to send 2010 out with a bang, although that is certainly an option.

Christian Arrives

Kara Best and Stephen Ciancio of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Christian Patrick Ciancio, born on Dec. 20, 2010, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Christian weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces at birth.

Rain or shine, the Vineyard’s Christmas Bird Count will take place on Jan. 2, 2011. We hope you will participate either in the field or by counting the birds at your feeders. Contact Rob Culbert if you are interested in joining a field team at 508-693-4908 or call in your feeder sightings between 2 to 5 p.m. at 508-627-4850.