Thanksgiving brings our summer friends, college kids and extended families to town by the bushel. (‘Tis the season to go scalloping, therefore, I just had to use the word bushel.)

Mariah and Jessica Campbell were home from their senior year at UMass; Malia (Scott), Chris, Eva, Theo and Quinn Stanley traveled from Boston; Bradley Carroll arrived from her senior year at the College of William & Mary; Chris Mayhew joined his family from his freshman year at URI, and many many more.

From one holiday to the next we dive right in to festivities such as gingerbread houses, wreath making, Christmas caroling, cookie baking and shopping locally. My priority list also includes updating Santa’s list for his visit to the CCC on Thursday, Dec. 21. Santa will arrive to visit with the kids living in town through the age of fifth grade. Email or call me if you have a child that age that Santa might need to know about.

This year, we are mixing things up a little bit. The kids Christmas Party sponsored by the Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association has evolved into a community potluck. If you would like to join in a little holiday cheer and watch our youngest townspeople marvel at the sight on Santa’s first gifts of Christmas then make a dish to share and head on over to the CCC at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 with Santa arriving a tad after 6 p.m. Hot mulled cider will be flowing. More information will be shared in the coming days.

Krissy Kurth squeezed in a recent visit with her sweet nephew, Latham. Latham is one of the newest members of the Chilmark Preschool family. He’s the mighty adorable son of Katy (Maciel) and Ryan.

Well wishes go out to Greg Mayhew who finds himself hospitalized in Boston. May you feel the love of your community rallying around you for a speedy recovery and return home.

Elizabeth Pickett Gray, although she no longer lives in town, stays in touch with friends and recently shared that she has laced up her hiking boots, loaded her backpack and taken to the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail. I have to admit, hiking a portion of the A.T. is on my bucket list along with driving cross country. I am lucky enough to check off the A.T. as I’ve done a small portion in the Presidential Range but the cross country drive still has an unchecked box beside it.

Tuesday night marks the transition from pizza night to a belly warming community supper at the Chilmark Church. The time, just like the sunlight, creeps a little earlier to 5:30 p.m. It is a time to join friends and neighbors for a hearty, mostly home cooked, meal, good conversation if you seek it and likely a few games laid out for those who would like to pass a little time on a dark evening. Folks are welcome to bring a dish to share if the mood to cook moves you or, please, simply show up, wash your hands and dig in. Questions? Email chilmarkchurch@gmail.com or reach out to Pam Goff for some details. She’s always a perfect resource.

As always, Deb Hancock has kicked the Christmas spirit into high gear at her real estate office and the bottom of North Road with prep work for, what I am sure will be, another memorable winter-scaped front porch. Once the lights are on, it is a treasured local spot to drive by for some up-Island dazzle. Thanks, to Deb and Patrick Echlin for the daily dose of holiday cheer.

Although the library offers fine amnesty year-round these days, the holiday season is upon us and why not make an extra effort? This is a perfect opportunity to find and return those old movies, magazines and paperbacks you may have accidentally tucked under the TV stand or under your bed. As always, outstanding fines are forgiven if you donate non-perishable food items for the Island Food Pantry. Tie up a loose end and feel good about contributing to a friend in need at the same time.

I like to loosely keep tabs on former employees as they make their way in the adult world. Lukas Frank, singer, songwriter, music producer and middle child of Jennifer and Scott, has music that’s been selected to be featured in a Netflix original series Godless. If you find yourself in L.A., he will be playing at the Bootleg Theatre on Dec. 12 for the release of his EP, Storefront Church.

People spent a lot of time in the kitchen this past week and it all wasn’t for Thanksgiving. The Homestead Way Athearns; Dan, Meg, Clara, Zeb and Penny, did some sausage making. The Ponte family celebrated Jake’s eighth birthday so, obviously, the Beetlebung Farmhouse smelled liked the sweet goodness of cake.

Now that we are officially in holiday season let’s start sharing some family favorite recipes and traditions.

Send Chilmark news to squidrow@vineyard.net.