Delays in supply deliveries sets Oak Bluffs fishing pier completion back.

The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury is renovating the historic sanctuary and in preparation for the work the pews were removed and will be stored at the Grange Hall.

The ukulele (“jumping flea” in Hawaiian) is a small friendly guitar-like instrument derived from a similar instrument brought to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century.

A strong winter storm is expected to begin on Thursday morning, with heavy snow and frigid temperatures. Island schools will have early dismissals on Thursday; regional high school lets out at 11 a.m., grammar schools at noon and the charter school at 12:30 p.m.

John J. Varkonda, who served as superintendent of the state forest for 26 years, died suddenly at age 55. The cause was abdominal aortic aneurysm. Mr. Varkonda was 29 when he assumed the superintendency of the state forest, only the second person to oversee the property.

On Saturday four Vineyard men went hiking on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. On the descent Conor, 22, and Adam, 24, took a wrong turn onto Tuckerman Ravine, triggering an avalanche. They plunged 800 feet but miraculously survived.