A small group of black powder enthusiasts competed for prizes at the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club’s annual Black Powder Shoot under raw weather conditions on Dec. 16.

Boys' basketball hopes to up its game again this year. The girls squad has a new coach. And the swim team is in the pool. High school winter sports season gets under way.

Mansion House is putting the “fit” in benefit on Sunday, Dec. 15. The health club at Mansion House will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for free swimming and workouts and they will donate a pass to Big Brothers/Big Sisters for every visitor they get.

In preseason scrimmages both home and away, the boys' and girls' hockey squads have been skating well. The puck drops for the boys' first home game on Saturday. The girls will not play at home until January.

The Island Cup rivalry between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket includes blowout wins and hard-fought losses. On Saturday the Vineyarders made history by defeating Nantucket 14-0 on Whaler home turf at the Island Cup.

In a series of short films, Sail Martha's Vineyard describes how its free programs help Islanders experience a sport often reserved for the wealthy -- and why it needs more support.