The traffic in town last Saturday morning could be counted on the fingers of one hand. People stayed at home with family, watched bowl games and relaxed. The temperature in December was above average and sometimes quite mild. The temperature swings have been astonishing — a drop of 30 degrees and then an increase of the same number. I thought my thermometer needed new batteries! This is about the time of year when up-Island offers discount gasoline on Sundays. Remember school opens for the winter term on Monday.

Anna and William Kohlasch of Lexington spent part of their school vacation with their grandparents, Peter and Beatrice Nessen of Boston at their home on Old County Road. Beatrice reports that her husband found many things for the grandchildren to do.

Sig Van Rann of Music street reports that he and his wife Susan Dickler drove down from New York city with Sofia and Jackson on Dec. 23, and on Christmas Eve morning they held their annual gingerbread house decorating party with extended family and friends with small kids. They had their annual Christmas dinner with their children and the Cohens. His son Jackson who now lives and works in Burlington, Vt., and his daughter Sofia, who lives and works in New York city, returned home on Monday. They extend their best wishes for a happy new year to all their good friends and neighbors.

Judy Hall of Pond Road and Oklahoma City, reports that her husband Malcolm has taken down most all of the Christmas decorations. The ones outside he left up and they were coated with real snow two days after Christmas. They have restored the house after hosting 18 members of the family for Christmas dinner. Malcolm is now busy planning their vegetable garden and has started growing plants indoors in their Oklahoma City home to bring to the Vineyard. This year he is growing two different types of okra plants, so he can transplant them immediately upon arrival. He knows Bob Ganz had a good crop of okra last year, but lacked recipes so he will share them if Bob shows him how he grows them from seed. He also reports that Judy just returned from Bethany Beach, Del., were she attended the annual Carmen Miranda winter art festival.

Ann, Sam and myself went up to be with our grandsons, Robbie and Henry, and their parents for Christmas. It was hectic and unusually warm, nearly 65 degrees on Christmas Day. We shopped with hundreds of others at the last minute and of course I had to visit a Portuguese bakery to buy the traditional loaf of sweet bread for Christmas breakfast. We did not go up to Providence this year, so I visited the School Street Bakery in Taunton. It was Henry’s first Christmas so it was very meaningful for our family. Arsen’s mother Aida cooked duck, salmon and other Armenian dishes for our dinner on Christmas Eve. We all had a wonderful time and returned home Friday night. I want to thank Pierce Kirby and his friends for pinch hitting at the post office.

Cynthia Riggs of Edgartown Road reports that even though she is now happily married, she is planning the Ground Hog Day party at her house. It has become a tradition for over a quarter century and also signals the beginning of the town’s political season.

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. They will host a reception tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. Mark Lovewell will sing sea songs of Martha’s Vineyard and play his guitar. Refreshments will be served.

Sherm and Susie Goldstein report that to celebrate 30 years of ownership of the Mansion House and to thank the Island community again, they are offering a great staycation for Island residents during the month of January. Rooms are just $30 per person, based on double occupancy. For more information visit the front desk or call 508-693-2200 for details.

History note: On Jan. 1, 1943 all of us were asked to contribute in some way to the war effort. In addition to rationing stamps, scrap drives and purchasing war bonds in many locations, did you know that women were also asked to save just one tablespoonful of waste cooking fat each day? They were urged by the federal government to do so as it would go a long way toward the glycerine requirements needed in the war effort. Each community was assigned a monthly quota in the Massachusetts waste fat collection campaign. After the first four months of the campaign, West Tisbury cooks had contributed about 85 per cent of its allotted monthly quota. However, they consistently met or exceeded their assigned quota of making bandages for the Red Cross.

Happy birthday to Martha Sullivan, Pat Vann and Kristy Monty today; Chris Jones, Julie Mitchell, Elizabeth Cecil and Phebe Bates tomorrow; Karen Dumont, Luiz Oliveria, Eben Armer and Melissa Nellis-Patterson on Sunday; Dr. Michael Goldfein, James Nelson, Jeanne Mullen, Lynne White and Brian Cox on Monday; Robert Hambardzumain, Renee Bonell, Alexis Holden-Garcia, Mary O’Connell, Ryan Tucker and Penelope Smith on Tuesday; Isaac Russell, Bernard Baumrin, Sandra Weber and Sam Hiser on Wednesday, and Joan Ames, Sonia Hoxie, Willie Whiting and Michael Dexter on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Bob Luskin, Akia Sharp and Lisa Dimitri.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. Not a lot of news to report because it is mighty quiet or folks are on vacation. Please call or email me with your news. Have a good week.

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