Well the automobile traffic in town was nearly non-existent most of the day as families gathered around their tree to exchange gifts and enjoy a family dinner. Relatives and friends came by to visit in the late afternoon. The church was well attended at the two services held on Christmas Eve, and another one held at the Agricultural Hall.

Next week I will begin my 18th year of bringing you as much social news as I can find in the town each week and I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have compiling it for you. All government buildings, including the library, will be closed on Monday to observe the New Year.

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

On January 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 on retiring from her position of instructor of journalism at New York University and intended to live here permanently. The Mayhew house was located next door to the former William Rotch house and across the street from the Sarah Burt home, one of the oldest in town. Their new place had remained vacant since the death of the Mayhew’s several years ago. The Vincents assumed residency in their new house in the spring after making interior renovations.

Happy Birthday to: Simon Hickman and Phyllis McMorrow Friday; John Gorman, Donald Sibley, John Patterson, Max Skjoldebrand and Linda Cohen Saturday; Mariah MacGregor, Jenifer Strachan and Elizabeth Rothwell on Sunday; Alan Hartman, Amy Sabin and Ashley Hunter on Monday; Martha Sullivan, Dan Small, Nathan LeBlanc and Dan Gaskill on Tuesday; Chris Jones, Julia Mitchell, Elizabeth Cecil, Lynn White, Roberta Kern, Hallie Armer and Diana Manter on Wednesday; Pat Vann, Karen Dumont, Erin Alwardt and Eben Armer, on Thursday. Happy Anniversary to Mike and Hermine Hull on Monday.

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 email me. On Sunday, around midnight, many people will be listening and singing along to 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.