Well a year ago this time we were preparing for a snowstorm. Little did we know it would be the first of many last winter. Well our first real snowstorm came last Saturday. It was beastly; we were pelted with a heavy wet snow and high winds, virtual white out, and gusts that reached 65 miles per hour, about all day and into the night. Most all of the boats were cancelled and so were the Sunday church services. We lost electric power for a 15 minutes span. Our son Sam shoveled snow two or three times, trying to lessen the impact, but had to give up. The next morning we awoke to a 15-inch snowfall! Most everyone spent Sunday digging out, making paths and cleaning off the car.

Anna Alley, of State Road, returned home on Sunday after visiting grandsons Robert and Henry and their parents Nicole and Arsen at their home in East Taunton. She was sorry to have missed the big snowstorm. However she brought back two new snow shovels just in case ours had worn out. They also visited her sister Nina in Providence before the storm hit and she reports everyone had a good time.

Carol Brush reports that Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center there will music, food and an art exhibition by Doug Kent. Bring the family along, there is sure to be something for everyone! They are asking for a $20 donation. All of the artwork displayed will be for sale, and the proceeds will go towards Doug’s medical expenses. The sale continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Judy Hall, of Pond Road and Oklahoma City, reports that her husband, Malcolm, has been busy planning their vegetable garden and has started growing plants indoors in their Oklahoma City home to bring to the Vineyard in the spring. He is growing two different types of okra plants this year so he can transplant them immediately upon arrival. Malcolm reports that Judy just returned from Bethany Beach, Del., were she attended the annual Carmen Miranda mid-winter art festival.

Cynthia Riggs Attebery and her husband Howard, of Edgartown Road, extend an open invitation to everyone to attend her 28th annual Groundhog Day party at the Cleaveland House on Edgartown Road from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday. Her parties are much anticipated, very interesting and a lot of fun. Please bring your favorite hors d’oeuvre to share with your friends but she says it is not a necessary requirement to attend. There is ample off-road parking in the field that is home to her boat with a separate entrance off of New Lane. Her party is also viewed by many as the kickoff of the local political season.

Saturday the 30th annual WMVY Big Chili Contest will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs.

Amy Hoff, over at the library, reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Community Seed Library will hold a seed swap and germination testing workshop on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the community room of the West Tisbury library.

Libby and David Fielder report that the congregational church will celebrate Mardi Gras a couple of days early this year. Their pancake supper and celebration will be held on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church. It will be a wonderful evening for all ages, with masks and beads and Mardi Gras décor. After a supper of their special pancakes with REAL maple syrup and sausages, there is dancing for all with music by Brian and Liam Weiland. The suggested donation is $5 per person or $15 per family.

Happy birthday to: Pam Speir, Janice Ovios, Josh Rich and Charlotte Cole Friday; Dr. Charles Silberstein, Tallia Emily Annese, Jack Wilson and Adele Schonbrun Saturday; Susan Dickler, Margaret D’Angelo, Melissa Lawry and John Hough Jr. on Sunday; William Deeble, Betty and Janice Haynes, Leah Smith, Tammy Jardin and Rosemary Hoeft on Monday; Janet Belain, James Irwin and Gayle Mone on Tuesday; Kim Moore, Rita Reynolds, Ken Francis and Jeanne Ogden on Wednesday; and Richard Olsen, Jill Napior, Lillian DiMartino, Millie Fodor, Tom Dresser, Ernie Chaves, Kathleen Tilton-Clancy, and Jean Morton Fischer on Thursday. Happy anniversary wishes to Ken and Cathy Campbell.

Well that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me.

Send West Tisbury to alleys@vineyard.net.