Holiday activity is humming at a fever pitch around town. Folks are coming from near and far to be with family and friends for Thanksgiving. All town buildings, post office, bank and 7a foods will be closed on Thanksgiving, creating a long weekend for many of us. Next Friday is the traditional start of the Christmas season and considered by retail merchants the busiest shopping day of the year. Can you believe that there are just 33 shopping days remaining before Christmas! When traveling the roads these days, especially at night, you are apt to see more deer than cars! Also remember the shotgun season for deer starts soon and will last for two weeks, so wear brightly-colored clothing if you walk in or near the woods.

On Sunday Old Jack Frost paid us a visit, and for early risers the temperature was 17 degrees. After the heavy rain on Monday most leaf bearing trees are now bare. We were also treated to a thunder and lightening show and high winds reaching more than 60 miles per hour.

The school reminds all parents that school will be dismissed for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend after classes on Wednesday.

Our friends and summer residents Judy and Malcolm Hall, out in Oklahoma City, will put up their tree on Dec. 1. They will be entertain about 40 people for Thanksgiving dinner and Malcolm is busy cleaning and decorating the place. Unlike Jane Konicki, Judy has not completed her shopping. She reported that there are great bargains and sales at Shepplers and persuaded Malcolm to take her out to lunch at Cattleman’s Café on Monday.

This year marks the 112th anniversary of the first electric Christmas ornament and it is well worth your while to drive by the Gatchell residence on County Road in Oak Bluffs to view their superb display of Christmas lighting. They will be turning them on Thanksgiving night and every night ‘til New Year’s Day. Bob reports that they have been hard at work the past few weeks decorating their yard, and he will unveil a new surprise or two that he has been working on for several months. This will make it an even more fantastic display of Christmas lighting than last season.

In the latest issue of the New Yorker, there is a two page article by that famous cartoonist and our neighbor Paul Karasik deconstructing a Charles Addams cartoon. He admits that seeing it in the New Yorker font style made his heart stop!

Barbara Day fell a couple of weeks ago and broke a bone in her hip. She has been hospitalized here on the Vineyard. Her husband Bob reports that she is slowly recovering and would appreciate visits or cards from her many friends.

The museum’s annual Appraisal Day takes place Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To make a reservation or seek more information call Jessica Johnson, 508-627-4441 ext. 117.

Marian Irving reports that the Christmas elves are at work planning the annual West Tisbury Congregational Church Christmas Faire on Saturday, Dec. 6. Advance orders are being accepted for wreaths, table trees, centerpieces and more at the church office, 508-693-2842. The popular food table will provide holiday treats, and lunch will be available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Amy Hoff at the library reports that this afternoon from 4 to 5 p.m. the library will host its first “Happy Music Hour” with a piano concert by David Stanwood. David has a long history with the library’s newly acquired Rosewood Steinway. He’s delighted to kick off the old tradition of “Happy Music Hour.”

Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard is seeking any unique, handmade items, including jewelry, needlepoint, knitted items, paintings, photographs, Christmas ornaments and more for Handmade from the Heart. Items will be sold at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House on Saturday Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds go directly to our patient care, which we provide for free. Anyone interested in donating can call the hospice office, 508-693-0189.

Mrs. Bradlee Martin, of Tiah’s Cove, set out to bake a custard pie the morning before Thanksgiving Day 1939. The ingredients were 18 turkey eggs from the nest out in their barn, fresh milk and cream from the famous Martin Jersey cows, granulated sugar, Sumatra spices, and the finest that SM Mayhew Co.(now called Alleys) had in stock. The mixture was beaten, whipped and blended. Mrs. Martin placed the dish in the oven and in due time it would emerge a beautiful browned custard pie. At the appointed time she went back to the oven, opened the door, and removed her culinary delight. But to her amazement the crust was on top and the custard was on the bottom of the pie. Her husband immediately suspected it was the pure vanilla extract that she had used to flavor it with. Why that stuff is 40% alcohol and s’nough to turn anything upside down!

Happy Birthday to: Dorothy Post, Bernice Kirby, Dan Metell and Stephanie Russell today, Dan Cabot, Nancy Dole, Sagitta Woodman, Deborah Forest Hart, and Matthew Merry tomorrow, Jim Barrett, Paddy Moore, Richard Greene, Corinna Parker and Robert Julier on Sunday, Nick Bayer, Teddy Karalekas, Paul McMahon and Ken Belain on Monday, Dan Waters, Dana Anderson, and E.J. Sylvia Jr. on Tuesday, Maria Gaskill, Arsen Hambardzumian, W Arthur Bingham and Owen White on Wednesday, Cindy Barrett, Joe Amaral, Sarah Powell, Eleanor Waldron, Micheline Sonia and Whitney Moody on Thursday. Happy 35th wedding anniversary greetings to Allen and Lynne Whiting on Monday.

Well that is all of the news for this week’s social column. If you have any news please don’t hesitate to email or call. Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Have a great week.

Send your West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.