This week we have had snow, rain, sleet, cold and freezing temperatures — and now it is warming up. We surely are having New England weather.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Davi Butkowsky, who celebrated his day Jan. 27; Samantha Patnaude, Jan. 28; Audrey Polleys Jan. 29; Michael Kelly, Jan. 30; Kathleen Vieira Da Silva, Jan. 31, and to Meghan Delphous, who celebrates her day today, Feb, 1.

It doesn’t seem possible that it is February already. Next up: Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and then it is March. Remember when we were young and couldn’t wait for our birthday or Christmas and our parents said not to hurry the time because it goes faster the older you get? Well, they sure were right.

Dr. Virginius Bray Thornton 3rd, professor of history at Massachusetts Bay Community College and founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), will speak at the League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyard Annual Black History Month Breakfast and Program on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. The topic of his talk will be Women of Interest: Past, Present, and Future. The event will be held at Howes House in West Tisbury, with breakfast at 9:30 a.m. followed by the program at 10 a.m. A league membership meeting will take place at 9 a.m.

Kayla Johnson, daughter of Rebecca Townes, is a sophomore at Manhattan College and has just been selected as one of 10 students to go to Rikers Island, a prison facility with a population of 10,000 prisoners. Kayla will be helping female prisoners who want to better their lives when they get out of prison by obtaining a college degree. Kayla, who is studying psychology, will be there from Jan. 31 to May 17. Good for you, Kayla; we are so proud of you.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.