The Congregational Church had a successful Christmas Faire and Marian Irving wants to thank all of the people who made it possible. My wife Anna won the raffle basket. She admits that she had forgotten about it with all of the holiday spirit but was delighted to receive it.

Kim Elias of Oak Lane reports that her daughter Hannah came home for the holidays last Sunday. When she returns to Roger Williams after the holiday break, she will be finishing her senior year except for a spring break in Nassau in the Bahamas. John Stanwood and Katie Ruppel have gone to England to be with her parents for the holidays.

Lynne Whiting reports that she and Allen returned home on Sunday from a quick trip to Providence, R.I., where they met Willie and Özge’s baby girl, Prudence Rüya Whiting! She was due to arrive on Dec. 30, but came in time to celebrate Christmas with her mom and dad. She was born on Dec. 20 at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island at 7:21 p.m., weighing in at 8 pounds, 11.7 ounces. Her maternal grandmother arrives on Monday from Turkey. Congratulations and Merry Christmas to all.

Steve Lohman and his wife Jenifer Strachan of Waldron’s Bottom Road will be ringing in the New Year in New Orleans Wednesday night. Jenifer’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve and what better way to celebrate it than enjoying the old French Quarter.

Linda Alley of New Lane wants to thank George Harry Athearn and Chip Mancuso for always being there and helping out at the Farmers’ Markets in the Agricultural Hall. Of course, she says, the markets would not be a success without your participation and she thanks all of you and wishes everyone a very happy and health New Year.

Amy Hoff over at the library reports that during the month of January, the work of photographer Phyllis Dunn will be on display in the community room of the library. The library will host a reception on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 3:30 p.m. Mark Lovewell will sing sea songs of Martha’s Vineyard and play his guitar. Refreshments will be served. Both the exhibit and the reception are free and open to the public.

Last week after I had filed my column I received word that old friend Anne Leggett had died. I have known Anne for 50 years. She was an accomplished painter and had many friends on the Vineyard. She painted pictures of a number of people in the town and always could be counted on to liven up a Christmas Eve party at her parents’ place. Our condolences to her brother Nick and his wife.

Well, this year is fast sliding away and next week I will begin my 15th year of bringing you as much social news as I can find in the town each week and I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed compiling it for you. I am, however, occasionally reminded that the senior social correspondent is June Manning up in Aquinnah, who really does have a vast network of resources for gathering the news.

History note: On Jan. 4, 1946 Burton M. and Pauline Vincent purchased the former James A. Mayhew house on Old County Road from Mrs. Percy Anderson of Berkley. The Vincents have been spending winters in the summer home of her aunt, Miss Sylvia Bates. She plans on retiring from her position of instructor of journalism at New York University this year and expects to live here permanently. The Mayhew property is located next door to the former William Rotch house and across the street from Sarah Burt’s. The place has remained vacant since the death of the Mayhews several years ago. The Vincents plan to take up residency in their new house after making some needed improvements in the spring.

Happy birthday to Glenn Jackson, Anna Hughes, Marianne Morelli and Rachel Baumrin today; Ruth Kirchmeier, Eleanor Luce, Claudia Lee, Jason Blackman, Mary Gross and Mark Bernard tomorrow; Gary Blodgett, Katherine Devane and Maitland Edey on Sunday; Simon Hickman, Phyllis McMorrow, Tye Stein and Mary Van Nes on Monday; Beth Kramer, Linda Cohen and Don Sibley on Tuesday; Jenifer Strachan and Elizabeth Rothwell on Wednesday; Mary Sabin, Jennifer Kelley and Ashley Hunter on Thursday. Happy 30th anniversary to Mike and Hermine Hull Thursday.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition, the last one of the year. It is time once again to make New Year’s resolutions. If you have any news of holiday guests please call or email me. Thursday night, near midnight, many people will be singing along with the famous recording by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadian Orchestra playing Auld Lang Syne to ring out the old and bring in the New Year. In the meantime, I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very happy and healthy New Year!

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