Most of us will recover after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner this week shared with family and friends. The day after Thanksgiving is the traditional start of the Christmas season and considered by retail merchants the busiest shopping day of the year. Did you know that there are just 28 shopping days remaining before Christmas?

Old friend Jane Konicki up in Webster reports that she has purchased all of her gifts and will avoid Black Friday. She will have 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 plan to entertain 40 people for Thanksgiving dinner and Malcolm will be busy cleaning up the place.

Manuel Estrella, fire chief, reported that the civic association distributed Thanksgiving baskets to deserving families last weekend.

Well, in the heavy rain and vicious wind last weekend I lost several shingles from my roof and once again Zeke Wilkins and crew came to the rescue.

Richard and Ina Andre and son Nicolas of Willow Tree Hollow celebrate Thanksgiving at their home after Richard collects the eggs at his farm. His brother Keith and wife Patty and their children Michael and Kaitlyn of Long Island, planned to come down for Thanksgiving and the holiday weekend.

Last week’s guest at Phyllis Meras home was Nicole Baker of Geneva, Switzerland, making her first ever trip to the Vineyard. She loved the beauty of Aquinnah, shingled houses, the friendly people she met everywhere and the sense of community. She departed Monday morning for Boston then on to visit a cousin in New York city before returning home.

Richard Knabel of Panhandle Road, along with Bob and Maggie Schwartz of Music Street, plan to entertain a gathering of family, friends and neighbors for Thanksgiving dinner at his home. Dick knows it will be a festive affair and a good time will be had by all.

Charlie Kernick and his wife Stevie planned their Thanksgiving dinner with his cousin Jim Athearn and his wife Debbie in Edgartown.

Simi Horwitz of New York city and a Vineyard visitor for many years wishes all of her friends here a happy holiday season.

Craig Mackenzie, our up-Island UPS delivery man, plans to go up to Hull to be with his mother Arlene and sister Michelle for Thanksgiving.

Ernie Thomas his wife Pam and daughter Anna will travel to Merrimack, N.H., to be with his stepdaughter Jean and the rest of his family for Thanksgiving dinner.

The library staff would like to remind you that on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., the library will host its annual holiday party. Celebrate the season with your fellow readers in the new library. There will be music and merry-making galore. The party is free and open to the public. Snacks are welcome!

The Vineyard Holiday Shop on Spring street in Vineyard Haven (behind the Beach House) opened its doors last Saturday and will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Christmas Eve. It will feature many of your favorite Island artisans and craftsmen all in the same location. In addition to Linda Alley (aka the Jelly Queen), Celine Segel will be making her first appearance selling her jewelry blends made from ancient chainmaille patterns inspired by her native southwestern France countryside.

Marian Irving reports that the First Congregational Church Christmas elves have arrived to do their magic! Greens workshops will begin at 9 a.m. and last until 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, in the parish hall and they will continue through Thursday. Advance orders for wreaths, table trees and centerpieces may be placed by calling 508-693-2842. The annual Christmas Faire festivities will be on Saturday, Dec 6, between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

On Nov. 22, 1945 two of the three Wollcott 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 have liked 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 vowed to return again.

Happy birthday to Valerie Becker, Gary Montrowl and Shannon Carbon today; John Becker, Mary Gould, Emily Wetherall, Tara Whiting and Gene Bergeron tomorrow; Phillipa Monka on Sunday; Wendi Farmer, Christina Diaz, Mark Ellis and Lynda Asbridge on Monday; Todd Goodell, Ed Konicki, Martha Schmidt, Michael Gately and Tracey Smith on Tuesday; Deborah McGoldrick on Wednesday, and Amanda and Toni Cohen, Richard Doane, Bobbie Lima, Laurel Wilkerson, Hadden Blair, Paul Metell and Elana Robinson-Lynch on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Carlos Montoya.

Well, that is all of the news for this week’s social column. If you have any news please call or email me. Have a great week.

The Gazette wishes its West Tisbury columnist John Alley a very happy birthday on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

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