JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Most of us are still recovering after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner yesterday that was shared with family and friends. Today is the traditional start of the Christmas season and considered by retail merchants the busiest shopping day of the year; however, with the economy the way it is, that may not be true this year. Did you know that there are just 29 shopping days remaining before Christmas?
Old friend Jane Konicki up in Webster reports that she has purchased all her gifts and will avoid Black Friday, and that she was having her husband, Ed, put up her tree after their turkey dinner. Our friend and summer resident Judy Hall, out in Oklahoma City, will have her husband, Malcolm, put up their tree on Dec. 1, a family tradition. They entertained 40 people for Thanksgiving dinner, and Malcolm is probably still cleaning up the place. Unlike Jane, Judy has not completed her shopping. Our friend Linda Baughman was in Grand Rapids, Mich., with family for Thanksgiving.
It seems that this month has slipped away in a blink of the eye. When traveling the roads these days, especially at night, be extra careful as you are apt to see more deer than cars. Also remember the shotgun season for deer starts on Monday and will last for two weeks, so wear brightly colored clothing if you walk in or near the woods.
Cecilia McCarthy and Alan Northcott, of Hops Farm Road, celebrated Thanksgiving with their children Adam and Lauren Petkus. She is hosting six other guests and of course Ken Rusczyk, of Oak Bluffs. Cecilia reported that after watching the Macy’s parade on television they would sit at the table to enjoy the wonderful dinner prepared by Chef Ken. He reported that the Thanksgiving turkey was going to be combined with duck and squab and very tasty.
Richard Knabel, of Panhandle Road, along with Bob and Maggie Schwartz, of Music street, were entertaining a gathering of family, friends and neighbors for Thanksgiving dinner at his home.
Dan and Nancy Cabot, of Middle Road, were serving 25 guests for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. Annie, Jackson, and Chilton and Alexandra Davies came from Concord, N.H. and Ray, Tyler and Austin Cabot, from Hightstown, N.J. Their son Ben, his wife, Nicole, and daughter Violet and son Reed were joining them. Gaston and Linda Vadasz, Nicole’s parents from Hungary, came to the special day. Cousin Ann Howes traveled the shortest distance. They also were serving several friends from on- and off-Island.
The Carlson family of New York is at their Peaked Hill home for Thanksgiving this year. Dave, Catha, Jessica, Luke and Scott will be at their home in Chilmark. Dave’s mother, Renee Carlson, will be joining them, as well as the Steve Carlson family of Pelham. Steve is Dave’s brother. Bob and Barbara Day will enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at the Carlson house.
Richard and Ina Andre and son Nicolas, of Old County Road, were celebrating Thanksgiving at their home after Richard collected the eggs at his farm. His brother Keith and wife Patty and their children Michael and Kaitlyn of Long Island, N.Y., came down for Thanksgiving and the holiday weekend.
Pierce Kirby, of North Tisbury has just returned from New York city; his friend Marcus Heal, of Berlin, Germany, came down with him for a few days. He was going to enjoy the huge Thanksgiving celebration at Rosalie Powell’s house on Old County Road. Kirbys, Diazes, Powells and several other people were lucky guests.
Linda Bassett, of State Road, reports that her husband, Ed, daughter Babette and her significant other Evan Rogers hosted a variety of family and friends for Thanksgiving. It was their first Vineyard Thanksgiving in five years.
Shanti Blum, of Music street, is hosting her daughter Leslie and grandchildren Sidne and Mason from Atlantic Highlands, N.J. this weekend. Grandma is being kept busy entertaining the grandchildren.
Sandra Polleys, of Hemlock Farms, Pa., was in town for the past two weeks meeting old friends and visiting her family and working on her thesis. The highlight of her trip, she says, was a deer running into her car. She reports no damage to either.
Tara Whiting reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Horse Council held a clinic last weekend with dressage judge Keith Angstadt. Once again, Mary Ann Brock opened up Misty Meadows to the riders and the clinic was a great success. The riders and the horse council wish to thank Mary Ann for her hospitality. The horse council would also like to remind people that the annual awards will take place at brunch on Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year it will be held at Mediterranean in Oak Bluffs. It is a great event with a wonderful silent auction to benefit the MVHC scholarship. For information, please call Alexia at 508-360-9325.
Marsha Winsryg reports she will hold an African Holiday Crafts Sale today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at her home on New Lane (follow the balloons). Items for sale include silver jewelry from Niger, woven baskets, hand carved animals and figures from Zambia, vintage patchwork quilts and bags from Ghana, and Kanga cloth from Zanzibar. One hundred per cent of the proceeds benefit the Mama Bakhita Home for Disabled Children in Livingstone, Zambia. These handmade crafts make wonderful gifts.
Wendy Weldon, Vineyard artist, will be selling her paintings, monotypes and drawings out of her art studio in Chilmark over Thanksgiving weekend from 10 to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow or by appointment; she welcomes visitors and collectors to her studio. This is her first open studio sale since moving back to the Island. She has beautiful canvases and paintings on paper for sale, spanning many years of creating art. For directions, please e-mail her at wendyweldon@earthlink.net. Also Wendy’s cousin, Monica Fernandes, is showing her jewelry.
Susan Wilson reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Museum will be holding appraisal day on Saturday, Dec. 5, in the museum’s library on School street in Edgartown from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sara Wishart and Stuart Whitehurst of Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers will be on hand to evaluate items. The cost is $10 per item, or three items for $25. To schedule an appointment, please call 508-627-4441, extension 117 or e-mail frontdesk@mvmuseum.org.
Also the museum will celebrate Christmas In Edgartown on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. with a Jewelry Jingle, a sale of used jewelry, gleaned from attics, jewelry boxes and dresser drawers from all over the Island — plus wine, hot cider and chocolate treats for shoppers. If you wish to donate used jewelry, please call 508-627-4441, extension 123. The sale will benefit the museum’s ongoing operations.
Ron Gamba reports that the final antique sale of the season will be held today and tomorrow at the Grange Hall. He reports that there are many bargains available, and he is sure to be even more generous at the sale so don’t miss it.
“On Nov. 22, 1945 two of the three Woollcott sisters, Barbara and Polly, of Catonsville, Md., carried out their promise to come back to town for Thanksgiving. They arrived that night a little later than they would like because of boat schedule problems. They were the guests of Wilfred Huntington and his mother at her Edgartown Road home until Sunday night. This was their first off-season visit and they thoroughly enjoyed it and vow to return again.”
Happy birthday to Eleanor Waldron, Cindy Barrett and Erik Vanlandingham today; Valerie Becker, Gary Montrowl and Shannon Carbon tomorrow; John Becker, Mary Gould, Emily Wetherall, Tara Whiting and Gene Bergeron on Sunday; Phillipa Monka on Monday; Wendi Farmer, Christina Diaz, Mark Ellis and Lynda Asbridge on Tuesday; Todd Goodell, Ed Konicki, Martha Schmidt, Beth Vages, Michael Gately and Tracey Smith on Wednesday; and Deborah McGoldrick on Thursday. [Editor’s note: Deborah shares that special birthday, Dec. 3, with trusty town columnist John Alley; happy birthday, John!]
Belated birthday wishes to Peter Ochs, Arsen Hambardzumian and belated anniversary wishes to two swell couples, Ernie and Kathy Chaves and Otis and Mary Rogers in Oak Bluffs.
Well, that is all of the news for this week’s social column. If you have any news, please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.
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