Sheriff Christopher S. (Huck) Look would have been pleased by the fellowship that arose at Tuesday’s service at the Edgartown Whaling Church. All his grandchildren, his family, many of his friends and a lot of his colleagues in the profession from across the state were there. Police chiefs and officers from every Island town, and many from afar, came to pay tribute.

The story of the building of the schooner Charlotte is a true Vineyard tale. Tonight at 7 p.m. the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival will open the weekend’s festivities with a documentary about the building of this wooden boat.

The film is called Charlotte. But the title feels too narrow for it is far more than a story about one big sailboat or one beloved boatyard. It is the story of a people and a community with a love of the sea.

Janet Woodcock, of Tisbury, is one of the Vineyard’s premier black and white photographers. While there are many who have embraced the medium, she is one of the last who still uses film, still goes into the darkroom and under a dull amber light prints her silver gelatin prints.

A Tisbury youth was honored at the selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday. Rasmus Sayre, 13, who only a few weeks ago rescued a helpless fellow competitor from the waters in Mexico, was called a hero by the selectmen.

Selectmen presented Rasmus with a plaque reading: “On this day, the board of selectmen and the citizens of the town of Tisbury honor Rasmus Sayre for his heroism, courage and selfless action to safe the life of another....”

Troubles in the Middle East and a sour national economy are not far from the minds of Vineyarders trying to make it through this cold winter. Home heating oil and propane prices went through the roof this week.

Yesterday the retail price for home heating oil was $4.199 a gallon, up 23 cents from Tuesday when the price was $3.969.

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

When a person accidentally falls into frigid water, the first minute after entry is the most critical in the struggle to survive.

Dr. Michael Jacobs, one of the Island’s highly regarded sailing doctors, gave a talk on Tuesday evening about ways to survive after an accidental plunge. His message to boaters is that most people aren’t aware where the dangers really lie that lead up to death in the water.