Last weekend we had a mixed bag of weather and some rain. The weather figures are in for November: it was the third wettest month on record with an average temperature range slightly below normal. The month seemed to fly by and we are fast approaching the shortest day of the year. But the holiday spirit and parties are popping up all around us.

The Fire Chief reports that the holiday lights were put on the tree at the Old County and State Road intersection recently. It will be lit each night till the New Year. A few homes so far are displaying outside lights and Christmas wreaths with more each day.

I celebrated my birthday last Monday and my wife Anna cooked a superb roast beef dinner with all the fixings, topped off with a homemade mincemeat pie. I had over 200 messages on social media from as far away as Turkey and Holland and several phone calls. Sig Van Raan reports that he and his wife Susan Dickler were here for the long weekend and celebrated a grand Thanksgiving feast with Richard and Toni Cohen and assorted extended family and friends. Susan’s sister Jane Dickler joined us for the weekend from New York.

Over the long weekend, the entire Binney family including four little ones came over to bake and construct 12 gingerbread houses. Again, he forgot to ask the building department for permits. They will be back next week for an extended stay.

The First Congregational Church invites all to their Christmas concert on Sunday at 4 p.m. The choir, led by music director and organist William Peek, will offer a program titled In the Time of Snow. The choir and soloists will be accompanied by harpist Sandra Bittermann. The concert will also include selections by the bell choir, under the direction of Hope O’Brien. Admission is $15 and students are free. Proceeds will benefit the church music program. A reception will follow the concert. For more information, call 508-693-2842.

Phyllis Meras of Music street is organizing the town Christmas party again this year. It will be held on Dec. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Agricultural Hall. She will be collecting names for her always interesting annual Christmas poem. Everyone is always interested in the theme she chooses to see if their name makes it in the poem and what presents she has given out to them. She had great success last year with this potluck affair. Call her with any questions at 508-693-1439.

The holiday party season has begun. Christmas in Edgartown is happening all weekend. The town party at the Agricultural Hall will be held on Thursday. Katherine Long of Scotchman’s Lane will be hosting the 40th annual Winter Solstice party on Sunday the 16th at her home from noon to 7 p.m.

The Martha’s Vineyard Democratic Council will meet tomorrow from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Howes House.

Olivia Larsen over at the library reports that tomorrow from 3:30 to 5 p.m., the public is invited to attend an opening reception for Through a Lens II, a community photography show on exhibit during the month of December. On Monday at 7 p.m., the library will host its monthly Writers Read evening. On Tuesday, Dec. 11 from noon to 1:30 p.m., drop by for their monthly wellness clinic. Public health nurse Lila Fischer will be available to check blood pressures and also offer diabetes glucose screenings. The library’s annual holiday party is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Happy birthday to Elias Wortmann, Robert Hennesey and Elizabeth Dowd Friday; Dan Cooney, Dan Rizzo and Bricque Gaeber Saturday; Judy Sutel, Karen Colaneri, Ellen Pesch, Emily Smith, Mary Morgan on Sunday; Virginia Bardwell Jones, professor Ellen Weiss, Dana Rezendes and Kansas Brew on Monday; John Sonia, Keith Johnson and Kristina Fletcher on Tuesday; Frank Sinatra, Alan Reekie, John Thurber, Lauren Withers and Jan Schulze on Wednesday; Silas Berlin, Susie Trees, Mary Beth Daniels and Simon Bollin on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Roy Riley. Well, that is all of the news for this week’s column. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week and start your shopping now.

West Tisbury town news can be sent to alleys@vineyard.net.