Well last weekend we experienced cold and damp weather, and seasonable temperatures with a bit of wind. On the mainland it was about the same as here, so I am told. The record is complete for November and it was the 10th warmest on record in our region with several days of temperatures that climbed into the mid 50s.

Anna, Sam and I traveled up to Providence, R.I. to be with her family for the Thanksgiving holiday. We gathered for Thanksgiving dinner at Anna’s sister Nina’s home in Providence. Her husband, Dieter, cooked a delicious meal. The array of food was spectacular and delicious, the adult beverages were superb. Their son Nick and his lady friend, Aditi Ghattia of Shanghai, China, were there, as was her niece Wendy Berry and her family. Our daughter, Nicole arrived with her husband Arsen, and grandchildren Robbie, Henry, Eddie and Mark from East Taunton. Their brother Donnie and his wife Christina drove up from New York city. Anna made her special pumpkin pies and a wonderful time was had by all.

We all went shopping on Black Friday along with thousands of others. Shops were crowded and the clerks were helpful and traditional Christmas music was prevalent in almost every store.

Fire Chief Manuel Estrella, of Indian Hill Road, reports that the holiday lights were put on the tree at the Old County and State Road intersection. His four grandchildren helped him with the task. It will be lit each night until the New Year. A few homes so far are displaying outside lights and Christmas wreaths.

Marian Irving, of Old County Road, wants to remind you that the West Tisbury Church Christmas Faire will be held Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the church. The faire has been a holiday tradition in town for more than a half century. They will be selling hand made holiday wreaths, decorations, jewelry, baked goods and a lot more. A lunch will be available.

The Island Community Chorus will hold their holiday concert Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Whaling Church in Edgartown. Over 100 voices will be performing.

Jen Wool, of South Road, reports that the town Christmas party will be held on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Agricultural Hall from 5:30 to 8 p.m. It is a potluck affair and she requests you bring appetizers, side dishes, desserts, beverages, and good cheer. Call her at 508-693-4791 for more details.

It was quiet and chilly on Dec. 7, 1941 in this town. Frank Adams, on Music street, had fired up his coal furnace for the first time since March, and Donaldson’s Garage was about to receive its monthly shipment of gasoline from the Mobil terminal in Vineyard Haven on Monday morning. Ole Borgen’s monthy supply of Texaco gas was delivered on Friday. Antone Alley was about to celebrate his 70th birthday and his daughter Lillian was busy baking him a cake. S.M. Mayhew Co. had closed at noon and Charlie Turner and my father went home for dinner. The Grange was going to hold its twice monthly meeting in the Agricultural Hall on Monday so the stove was lit upstairs by the janitor to take the chill out of the meeting space.

Antone Campbell, Harry Athearn and Johnson Whiting were preparing to milk their cows about 4 p.m. in the afternoon. Most folks in town had returned home from church services and had eaten their Sunday dinner. Most families had already cut a proper Christmas tree and the wives had prepared their parlors to receive guests that afternoon. The most popular song of the day was Glenn Miller’s Chattanooga Choo Choo. It was just 17 days till Christmas and the Sears and the Roebuck Christmas book in every home had seen some serious use. The attack on Pearl Harbor was announced over CBS radio by John Charles Daley at about 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon. As evening fell, people kept their radios on to learn more news from Pearl Harbor. Plans were made for the President to address Congress the next day shortly after noontime to declare war on Japan.

Happy birthday to Jennifer Feiffer, Ed Konicki, Michael Gately and Todd Goodell today; Deborah McGoldrick, Ann Rosenkrantz, and Nathan Davies on Saturday; Toni Cohen, Elana Robinson-Lynch, Paul Metell, Laurel Wilkinson, Dillon Bartkus, and Roy Riley on Sunday; Linda Mahoney, Paul Edelson and Lucinda Buehler on Monday; Nicole Hebert, Bonnie Jackson, Cal Monast, Bonnie Steere and Laura Stone on Tuesday; Sarah Vail, Caleb Walbert, Elias Wortmann and Elizabeth Dowd on Wednesday; Daniel Cooney, Jane Sobel, Karen Colaneri and Daniel Rizzo on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Bob Bunch Avi Lev, Ronni Simon and Laurel Wilkinson.

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

Editors note: The Gazette wishes its esteemed columnist a very happy 75th birthday on Dec. 3. Long may John Alley chronicle the news of West Tisbury.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.