Located on the furthest, most immaculate tip of Chappaquiddick, Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge is home to salt marsh, coastal cedars, endangered shorebirds and some of the best recreational fishing the Vineyard has to offer.

Now 50 years old, the Federal Endangered Species Act continues to play a key role in the survival of flora and fauna on-Island and across the nation. It has also inspired the creation of state conservation acts.

Icicles go with the flow.

I was curious about how many species have been reported in this column so far this year.

The two morning planets, Venus and Mars, are really close together.

The storms have rung alarm bells about potential environmental hazards, both from the continual undermining of the south shore’s barrier beaches that protect these ponds and from the longer-term effects of more salt water breaching the fresh water environment.