Now that heavy rain and snow have arrived, last year's dry summer is a distant memory. In fact, the Island ended up with more rainfall than usual in 2002.

Organizers of Last Night, First Day, the Island's own New Years celebration, were feeling good about their success yesterday. Valerie Richards, executive director of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, said: "I was thrilled. The turnout for most of the events was fabulous. The fireworks were fabulous. Whoever parted the clouds and the fog deserve a great thanks."

A huge storm that caused troubles for much of the nation ended up sparing the Vineyard its worst wrath. Though the Christmas Day northeaster passed over the Vineyard and Nantucket on its path out to sea, it dropped an inch of snow and lots of rain. The National Weather Service cooperative station recorded 1.41 inches of melted precipitation.

Vineyard Haven has led the Island into the new year for nine years running, but next week's celebration figures to be the loudest ever. Organizers of Last Night, First Day 2003 have planned a more sensational fireworks show as part of the three-day family festival spanning New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The season's first big snowstorm turned the Island into a winter wonderland yesterday and last night. It marked the first time in years the Vineyard has seen so much snow before Christmas.

The discovery of airplane parts and other evidence at South Beach this week confirms that two men traveling in a private plane that disappeared 10 days ago were killed in a catastrophic crash in Vineyard waters.