Well the weekend weather was cold but no snow fell on Christmas. Families gathered around the tree to exchange gifts and the children noted that Santa Claus had left the presents. The trend in recent years seems to be more toward family or neighborhood gatherings to welcome in the New Year. School opens for the winter term on Tuesday.

Sam, Anna and I all went up to East Taunton and Providence to spend the Christmas holiday with Nicole and her husband Arsen Hambardzumian, our grandchildren Robbie, Henry, Edward, and Mark, Arsen’s mother Aida, and his grandmother Susie from Cranston, R.I. Anna’s brother Curtis flew in from Oklahoma City to be with his daughter Wendy and her family who now live in Providence. Her brother Donnie and his wife came in from New York city. We all fared well on Christmas and enjoyed being with family. Arsen’s mom Aida prepared a wonderful Christmas dinner for everybody.

This year is fast sliding away and next week I will begin my 17th year of bringing you social news that I can find in town each week. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have compiling it for you. All government buildings, including the library and the post office, will be closed on Monday to observe the New Year, hence our first three day weekend of the year.

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

Jane Konicki, of Webster, reports that her husband Ed removed their tree and all of the decorations in and outside of their home before dark on Christmas Day. They were the first couple to put up a tree the day before Thanksgiving and it stands to reason they should be the first to take it down. On the other hand Judy Hall out in Oklahoma City reports that she will wait until Jan. 6 to have her husband Malcolm remove the decorations and tree.

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

Lynn Christoffers of Edgartown Road is visiting family in New York city for the holidays. She sends her best to all her friends.

Susan Block, of Music street, reports that the MV Partnership for Health is offering a free informational introductory session, My Life My Health. It will be held on Thursday Jan. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon at the West Tisbury Library.

Shannon Burke, of Dripping Springs, Tex., was up our way recently. She enjoyed snow but not the bitter cold. She is happy to be back in Texas.

On Jan. 4, 1946 the town had its first real estate transaction of the New Year. Burton M. and Pauline Vincent, of Merrybrook Farm Road near Look’s Pond and Chilmark, 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, located on the farm road. Pauline planned to retire from her position aS instructor of journalism at New York University to live on the Island permanently.

Happy birthday to: John Gorman, Donald Sibley, John Patterson, Max Skjöldebrand, and Linda Cohen Friday; Mariah MacGregor, Jenifer Strachan and Elizabeth Rothwell Saturday; Alan Hartman, Marta Azzollini and Ashley Hunter on Sunday; Martha Sullivan, Dan Small, Nathan LeBlanc and Dan Gaskill on Monday; Chris Jones, Julia Mitchell, Elizabeth Cecil, Lynn White, Roberta Kern, Hallie Armer, Fred Murphy and Diana Manter on Tuesday; Pat Vann, Karen Dumont, Erin Alwardt, Eben Armer, Volker Kaempfert and Peter Kleeman on Wednesday; and Michael Goldfein, Lynn White, Roberta Kern, Fred Murphy, Barbara Bellissimo and Whit Manter on Thursday. Happy anniversary to Mike and Hermine Hull on Sunday.

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. Saturday night, around midnight, many people will be listening to 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.