KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

Baby, it’s cold outside; I have been singing this song all week. It doesn’t look as if there will be much relief in the near future so I hope you stay warm and snug.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Justin Donahue, who celebrated his day Dec. 4. Michaela Benefit celebrated Dec. 5, and Vincent Benoit, Jerry DaSilva and Abigail Willoughby all celebrated on Dec. 6. Victoria Scott had her day on Dec. 8, and Warner Hess, Joshua Pinto, and Gustavo Ramos all celebrate today, Dec. 10.

Happy birthday to Joel DeRoche, who celebrated his day on Dec. 7.

There were many people in front of their televisions watching the Pats and Jets on Monday night. It was one of the better games we have watched and I have to admire those who were sitting in the stands watching and freezing. But it was worth it, so I am told, from the Islanders who attended the game and stayed until the last minute. Go Pats!

I go to Gretchen Wean to have my hair cut, and we were talking about Christmas and presents. I asked her if she was offering any specials to her clients and she told me that the original Keratin complex treatment has been reduced from $350 to $200 for the month of December. And through December she has holiday specials, including this: Buy a gift certificate for $100 and receive a free gift certificate for $25. Two gifts for one price!

I received an e-mail from Mary Edwards that was forwarded from her daughter, Lizzie, who is in Africa with the Peace Corps. Lizzie has been there since 2009. She wants everyone to know that tomorrow beginning at 10 a.m. at the Edgartown School gymnasium, her parents will be selling handmade jewelry, purses and bags made by two women’s groups that she works with in Oyugis, Kenya. Prices range from $5 to $25. Custom work can also be ordered. “The women work very hard and have really benefited from the increase in sales they’ve seen over the past year,” Ms. Edwards wrote in the e-mail. “They’ve been able to pay the fees for their children to go to school, buy medicine for their families, pay off loans, buy food, shoes, goats (for milk), and one woman paid for one of her sons to get vocational training. The women range in age from 17 to 70 years old and many of them are widows and care for orphans in addition to their families. Please check it out and help economically empower these women.”

I hope you are all prepared for Christmas in Edgartown. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the school; from there it will march through town. The pet parade is back this year!

There are many, many activities going on, among them the Handmade from the Heart sale at the Dr. Fisher House which is a benefit for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. They will also be having a luncheon and tea. Take some time to check it out.

This week we lost one of our young women who fought a long and courageous battle against cancer. Heather Jardin, daughter of the late Lynn Jardin, died on Wednesday morning in Boston, surrounded by her family. Heather was an artist who loved music and was known best of all for her gardening and work at Morning Glory Farm where she tended the herb garden. We are all saddened by her death, and she will be in our hearts forever.

I was also saddened at the death of my former Vineyard Haven neighbor Doris Billings. Doris lived across the lane from my family home and I have great memories of the nights she came over to visit with my mom and have coffee. My favorite memory was the night of the great Northeast blackout; it was suppertime and we had one of the old oil stoves and of course it was on and Doris came over to finish cooking dinner on the stove. She will be missed by many, and sympathies go out to her family.

Don’t forget there is a special town meeting set for Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church. Please try to attend; your vote is important.

Have fun this weekend; I hope you can get out and enjoy some of the activities in town.

Have a great week, and keep the home candles burning.