The Aquinnah Public Library will host a cookie exchange tomorrow as well as an ugly sweater competition for pure enjoyment only. There is a new rug which has been placed in the children’s area. Crafts will begin at noon with Barbara.

The First Baptist Church in Tisbury will hold the annual Christmas tea tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m. at the parish house on William street. Stop by to enjoy the luncheon, the sale of baked goods, or reasonably priced crafts and gifts, or just stop in to shop. Tickets for the luncheon are $8 per adult and $5 for children.

The NAACP Holiday Bazaar for their scholarship fund, will be held tomorrow at the Oak Bluffs Senior Center on Wamsutta avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with many vendors selling their crafts and jewelry, raffles, baked goods and more.

There will be a fundraiser tomorrow evening at the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs for the late Beatrice (Beach) Bennett. The buffet will be prepared by retired chef Louis Giordano. Dinner is at 6 p.m., tickets are $75 per person. There will be a silent auction. The proceeds will go towards a scholarship in Beach’s name.

The town Christmas party will be held on Tuesday evening at 5 p.m., at the town hall. A potluck dinner will be shared. Santa will arrive shortly thereafter by his usual mode of transportation aboard the fire truck. Thank you to Betty Joslow and the community programs committee and all the elves who have organized, shopped, decorated and hosted the annual event.

Community Baptist Church of Gay Head will celebrate Christmas with the annual candlelight service at 5 p.m., with worship by Rev. Ellen Tatreau. This year, the Christmas music will be performed by Wendy Andrews and her friends who are all ukulele aficionados.

West Tisbury Congregational Church will celebrate on Christmas Eve with the story of the nativity by candlelight at 5 p.m., at the Ag Hall on Panhandle Road. Music will be performed by the Joyful Noise Choir under the direction of Brian Weiland — a group of Vineyard children performing together. The annual candlelight service will be at the West Tisbury Congregational Church at 10 p.m., with worship by Rev. Cathlin Baker.

If you care to spread a little Christmas cheer for those far away from their families at this time of year, consider those serving at Station Menemsha for the United States Coast Guard. Some of their favorites are crackers and cheese, a fruit basket, a favorite casserole, home-baked cookies, soda or juice, bratwurst, scallops wrapped in bacon or a shrimp platter. Chilmark Chocolates always makes a very generous donation to the service men and women serving at Menemsha during Christmas and throughout the year. Wayne Iacono will be delivering his annual gift of a Christmas turkey. Margaret Maida bakes cookies for all.

Since the article appeared in the Vineyard Gazette about my contributions, others have followed. But then there are many who frequently drop off lobsters, striped bass, scallops, and other local fare. The station executive chef Mark Montgomery does not work on weekends and therefore the weekend crew is always on their own for meals. I had the pleasure of finally meeting Mark, after all, he has only resided in Aquinnah for the past three years. The crew will be on their own for the week between Christmas and after New Year’s when Mark travels home to Kansas for the holiday with his family. For other food ideas for their Christmas dinner, please call Tom Ruimerman and Janet Weidner and their twins Andrew and Peter at 508-645-7830.

My grandson Christopher Manning is presently serving in the United States Navy. We had expected him home over the holidays but he does not have enough leave to travel from California. On Wednesday morning, we sent him a little bit of the Vineyard in his Christmas gift. Of course, Chilmark Chocolates was one of the greatest he will enjoy, a Squid Row shirt, a Vineyard Vines shirt, a Vineyard Gazette and many more remembrances from home. Christopher is presently serving aboard an aircraft carrier and on occasion I receive a Facebook message, but not often enough. We anticipate he will share his tastes of the Vineyard with his fellow shipmates.

Condolences to the family and friends of Norman Bridwell who passed away over the weekend at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. For more than half a century, Norman delighted millions of children around the world with his Clifford the Big Red Dog stories. His stuffed Clifford dogs were also very popular with the young ones, as was everything Clifford. Norman and his wife Norma were very generous across the Vineyard, often donating to the former Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Child Care Center and were annual donors to the Possible Dreams Auction for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, as well as many other Vineyard charities.

Condolences to the family and friends of Carolyn (Callie) Silva who passed away this week in Westborough. Callie was a former schoolmate at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Her visits to Aquinnah were to indulge in local art, which she and her friend the late Rusty Walton greatly enjoyed while in town to delineate a few wetlands. Callie will be missed also for her amazing work with elders across the Vineyard as well.

Merry Christmas to one and all. May we find peace in this time of worldwide turmoil. May we find love and joy at this time of the year and beyond. PEACE.

Happy 60th anniversary to Gene and Jackie Baer who will celebrate their special day on Dec. 23.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Nancy Huntington Nitchie on Dec. 20 who shares the day with Claus Maple Smith. Sunday will be a day of celebration for Max Batzer who shares the day with Molly Fischer. A very special happy birthday wish to my daughter in law Theresa Kistner Manning on Dec. 22. Two of my classmates celebrate on Dec. 22 — John H. Bunker and Bertie Viera Madeiras. Gabi Vanderhoop will party on Dec. 23. Dorothy Floros will celebrate on Dec. 24. William Kestenbaum and Naushon Vanderhoop share the day on Dec. 26.

Send your Aquinnah news to: junemanning152@gmail.com.