The roads are more narrow now, the mountainous snowbanks swallowing acreages of asphalt all over the Island.

In the book Bowling Alone, author Robert Putnam described the phenomenon of communities losing the very essence of what made them great, or at least functional, when they acted as vehicles that helped bring individuals together.

Anyone who thinks it is impossible to get things done quickly on Martha’s Vineyard hasn’t met the women behind the Island Wide Youth Collaborative.

There are still many details to be worked out, but last week’s special town meeting in Chilmark seems to have put to rest the ugly public squabbling over the Squibnocket town beach project.

Snow began falling on Monday afternoon; then came the howling winds. High tide brought icy floodwaters to the harborfront and fierce waves lashed beaches and docks.

Don’t rock the boat. That was the slogan plastered on buttons and bumper stickers in the 1990s when Islanders went to Beacon Hill to fight for control of the Steamship Authority, the boat line that is their lifeline.