JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Christmas eve candlelight service will be held at Community Baptist Church of Gay Head on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. Rev. Roger Spinney will offer the Christmas message in his worship sermon. Special music will be performed by members of the congregation, and Mrs. Kathryn B. Stewart will lead one and all in organ music for the Christmas carols.

Mallory Butler returned home this past week after visiting her daughter Jeffie and her husband, Kevin, and especially granddaughter Maeve in Aspen, Colo. Lenny was rather quiet during his empty nest time.

Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal member Stephanie Duckworth-Elliott was on the Vineyard this past week promoting her book Poneasequa about her young life on Chappaquiddick. She has recently formed Wampum Books, a publishing company for American Indian authors.

Tom Fantasia has arrived home from his freshman year studies at the University of Maine at Orono.

Pam Glavin returned home on Saturday evening from a visit with her parents in Paxton, arriving home at the height of the storm.

Condolences to the family and friends of Corrine (Averill) Hatt, who passed away on Dec. 13 after being such an incredibly brave survivor for a long time. She took extra care in being a mentor and inspiration to fellow cancer survivors and always with a great feeling of encouragement for others. Corrine was a fellow classmate of the Class of 1964 at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Services will be held in January, as she had already made all the arrangements as one of her final plans. We will miss her bright outlook in the face of her long illness.

Ted Leslie and his wife, Kristina, returned home recently from their annual visit with her daughters, Samantha and her husband, Cliff, and Jennifer and her husband, Doug, and their sons, Maxum and Charlie in Los Angeles. The highlight of their trip this year included a Cirque de Soleil at the Santa Monica Pier where they met Matthew Gray-Gubler and Paget Brewster of Concord, both actors on Criminal Minds. They had a day trip to Carlsbad, Calif., and flew kites on the beach, while eating dungeness crabs on the pier. Needless to say, they had a grand family gathering.

Congratulations to fellow Vineyard Gazette columnist Holly Nadler and her husband, Jack Shea, who were married in Aquinnah in October; wind and rain kept them from getting married at the Lighthouse, so the ceremony took place where the reception was already planned, at the Aquinnah town hall. This was the best kept secret in Aquinnah this season. All the best to this special journalistic couple.

Samuel Scott has arrived home from his freshman year studies at Nichols College. His brother Matthew, a junior at Dartmouth College, is expected home this week for the holiday.

Diotima and Brian Vanderhoop postponed their blizzard party on Saturday evening due to the extent of the storm.

Taza Vercruysse has arrived home for his holiday break from his freshman year studies at Wooster College in Ohio. His sister Pearl is excited to have him home.

By the way, who has been singing Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow? Please stop already. The snow has been fun for some of the children who have never experienced a white Christmas before. They have pulled out their sleds and snow saucers. Before the week is out they will have a wonderful time ice skating if the temperatures remain below freezing as they have been for the past few nights. Thank you to the road crews for their plowing, sanding and shoveling expertise, and to NStar, who had the electricity back on within two hours in Aquinnah. Thank you to those who have called to check on our elders and assure their safety is in order.

Happy fourth anniversary wishes to Mitzi Pratt and Flip Scipio as they celebrate their special day on Dec. 30.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Christina Montoya, as she parties on Christmas Day. Naushon Vanderhoop will celebrate on Dec. 26 and shares the day with William Kestenbaum. Paul Vandal parties on the Dec. 28. Aquinnah fire chief Walter E. Delaney will observe a major milestone on Dec. 29.

Olive Mae and Violet Jeanne MacPhail, twin daughters of Shaun MacPhail and Alexandra Taylor, will celebrate their fourth birthday on Dec. 30.

May you have a very merry Christmas, one and all who observe this special day in our lives. May the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with peace. Safe journeys for those traveling at this time to be with their family and friends.