We did not have any snow on Christmas Day, in fact we have had one of the warmest Decembers on record. The automobile traffic in town was nearly nonexistent most of the day as families gathered around their tree to exchange gifts and enjoy a family dinner. Relatives and friends came by to visit in the late afternoon. The church was well attended at the two services held on Christmas Eve.

All government buildings, including the library, will be closed Friday to observe the New Year.

Next week I will begin my sixteenth 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 compiling it for you.

Sam, Anna and I all went up to East Taunton to spend the Christmas holiday with Nicole and her husband Arsen Hambardzumian our grandchildren Robbie and Henry, his mother Aida and his grandmother Susie from Cranston, R.I. Nicole is expecting twins in March so their family will double in size and we are all excited. We all fared well on Christmas and enjoyed the balmy weather. It was nearly 70 degrees and we all sat out on the deck and enjoyed snow cones after lunch. The weather was downright balmy for this time of the year but the weather pattern changed on Sunday. When in Taunton a must stop is El Mariachi, a popular Mexican restaurant opposite the town square. David Lopez, the manager, reported that this time of the year they serve nearly 1,000 dinners in a single evening. A thank you to Pierce Kirby for once again pinch hitting at the post office and Alan Gowell for minding the cemeteries in my absence.

Steve Lohman and his wife Jenifer Strachan, of Waldron’s Bottom Road will be ringing in the New Year on the Island this year. Jenifer’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve and what better way to celebrate it than a first night party.

Sal Laterra, of Providence, R.I., arrived on Wednesday to spend the New Year with Phyllis Meras at her Music street home. They returned home from a trip to New York city last week. Sal is hoping to spend more time on the Vineyard this year.

Diane Nolan, Jack Ryan and John Hertz over at the post office wish all of their patrons and friends a Happy New Year.

Sundy Smith and Jon Previant of Lambert’s Cove began a week of birthday celebrations after Christmas. On the 26th, son Ben Zimmermann, his wife Thorunn Zimmermann of Milton and their three girls Ella, Nina and Sundy came down along with daughter Rachel of Iowa City with husband Dan Smith and Owen and Zoe and daughter Anna and husband Harry Brautigam of Miami. Ben’s birthday was the 26th,

Sundy the 28th and Rachel’s yesterday. A week of good food, games, chores at the Farm Institute and even lots of outdoor walks and games were held.

Ava and Naomi Plakins wish all of their Vineyard friends a Happy New Year. So do Jen Wool, Lisa Lillibridge, Dan Leventritt and all of the Blue Barque gang.

Marjorie Pierce, over at the church, reports that the community suppers will begin on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the parish house and will be held every Wednesday through April 30, weather permitting. Side dishes will be gratefully accepted but not required.

Amy Hoff, over at the library, reports that on Saturday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. the library will be hosting its Lego Club for all ages. Various sizes of Legos will be provided to suit all age groups. Come with a friend or meet friends at the library. This event is free and open to the public.

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 had been spending winters in the summer home of her aunt, Miss Sylvia Bates, on the town line. She planned on retiring from her position of instructor of journalism at New York University this year and intended to live here permanently. The Mayhew house was located next door to the former William Rotch house and across the street from Sarah Burt’s old house that dates back to the late 1700s. The place had remained vacant since the death of the Mayhews several years ago. The Vincents planned to take up residency in their new house after making some improvements.

Happy birthday to Jenifer Strachan and Elizabeth Rothwell Thursday; Barbara Flynn, Steve Bernier and Ashley Hunter Friday; Martha Sullivan, Dan Small, Nathan LeBlanc, and Dan Gaskill on Saturday; Pat Vann, Chris Jones, Julia Mitchell, Elizabeth Cecil and Diana Manter on Sunday; Erin Alwardt, Volker Kaempfert, Elizabeth Benders Hyde and Peter Kleeman on Monday; Michael Goldfein, Lynn White, Roberta Kern, Hallie Armer, Fred Murphy and Whit Manter on Tuesday; Ryan Tucker, Grace Rouse, Todd Hitchings, Michael Bellissimo and Mary O’Connell on Wednesday; and Ike Russell, Alexis Garcia-Holden and Sam Hiser on Thursday. Belated wishes to Max Skjöldebrand. Happy anniversary to Mike and Hermine Hull on Saturday.

Well that is all of the social news for this week’s edition, the last one of this year. It is time once again to make New Year’s resolutions. If you have any news of holiday guests please call or e-mail me. Thursday, around midnight, many people will be listening and singing along with the famous recording of Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians playing Auld Lang Syne to 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 West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.