Nice to finally see the sun on Monday after a week of gray skies and damp air. Nighttime temperatures dipped into the 20s. The rain on Tuesday added to the water levels.

Story time takes place at the Aquinnah Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10:30 a.m. Kids Crafts is at 11 a.m.; Snowmen Catching Snow Flakes. After school club is on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m.

Martha’s Vineyard Museum presents the annual Appraisal Day on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Skinner, Inc. in the Huntington Library. Bring in your prized objects for the experts to examine. Please omit coins, stamps, jewelry or musical instruments. Appraisal fees are $15 for one item and $40 for three items. Reservations are required by calling 508-627-4441, ext. 123 or email kfuller@mvmuseum.org.

For December, the Neighborhood Convention will be meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Methodist Church in the Camp Ground. The Minnesingers will be performing under the guidance of their director Janis Wightman. Please remember to bring your lunch. Beverages and dessert will be served.

The Minnesingers will also perform on Dec. 6 at 12:45 p.m. at the Up-Island Council on Aging at the Howes House. Lunch with chowder and sandwiches will be served at noon, provided for by the Friends of Up-Island Council on Aging. Reservations are required by calling 508-693-2896.

Tri-Town Ambulance is hosting a food and gift collection Friday through Dec. 15. The drop off location is the West Tisbury Fire House on State Road in North Tisbury (next door to the Charter School). Food donations will be distributed to the Food Pantry in Vineyard Haven. Toys will be distributed in the West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah communities. Thank you for your support.

Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop returned home on Monday after spending 10 days in London with her younger brother Edward and his wife Sue, who reside in Kensington. The occasion for her visit was the 50th birthday party for Edward, a grandiose black tie affair at Draper’s Hall. Edward and Susan are both attorneys, or barristers shall we say. Lisa enjoyed Thanksgiving from a different perspective across the pond, attended an ex-pat party and was close enough to walk to Kensington Palace. It was Lisa’s first trip to London in 10 years and she enjoyed the sightseeing and shopping while there.

Natalie Francis enjoyed her Thanksgiving holiday in East Falmouth with her sons Anthony and Louis Belain, while her daughter Paula remained on the Vineyard.

Anne Vanderhoop Madison entertained her family and friends for Thanksgiving with her annual open house and an abundance of food and friendship.

Yours truly enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at Station Menemsha with Joel Behr, Joshua Brooks, Joseph Queen, Shaquille and Jaylynn Reed, Benjamin Renner, Martin Ridge, Adam and Meghan Smith and Travis Von Dessonneck. We were joined later by Gabriel Villano. Thank you one and all. A great meal and the best in fellowship.

Noah Manning returned home Sunday night after spending Thanksgiving in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. with his grandparents William and Joan Kistner and many of his aunts, uncles and cousins. He was accompanied on his trip by his parents Paul and Theresa. They were all especially thankful for the arrival of his cousin Luke William Pitcairn who was born on Nov. 23, the son of Marc and Allison Pitcairn.

What is the saying about luck? In August, my parked car was damaged and after three months of estimates, insurance paperwork, telephone calls and emails, the adjuster arrived on Tuesday morning for the final estimate and more photographs. I met him at the Steamship Authority at 9 a.m. Then, while heading home at 5:30 p.m., I encountered a not-so-friendly deer in West Tisbury. Thank you to so many for their much appreciated concern and support — to the young lady who was directly behind me and offered assistance, to West Tisbury police officer Matthew Mincone whose professionalism especially in euthanizing the deer was impressive, to David Blackington who was on the scene and asked if he may have the deer when it was apparent I did not wish to keep it, to Chilmark police officer Whitney Hyde for his kindness and understanding of why my car was not in compliance with proper lights as I drove through Chilmark, to Aquinnah police officer Michael Leccese who assisted me with accident report forms and assessing the damage, and to Jennifer Wray at Martha’s Vineyard Insurance for her compassion and professionalism as well. It was the first time in 55 years of driving on the Vineyard that a deer has ever damaged one of my cars.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Patricia Pease who will observe her special day on Dec. 2.

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