One thing Chilmark potlucks are know for is an over abundance of sweets and many hands to make light work. Although David Flanders, Herbert Hancock, Bette Carroll, and so many others known for their characteristic Chilmark sweet tooth are no longer with us, the tradition lives on and was front and center at the Chilmark Firefighter Association’s annual Christmas party.

The CCC was adorned with twinkle lights, a sleigh for Santa, two trees (one inside and one out), red and white checked tablecloths with a few greens and plaids for good measure. The doors busted open at 5:30 p.m. sharp with children in everything from glittery dresses to dirt stained knees fresh off the playground. The potluck tables overflowed with cakes, cookies, double cut pizza, salads and sides. All of this came together under the watchful eyes of Gary Robinson, David Norton, Christina Colarusso, Robert Coutinho, Brooke Emin, Forrest Filler, Chris Smith, Jessie Damroth and more.

At 6 p.m., with lights blazing, Santa arrived by fire truck and was escorted in after hugs, ho ho hos and high fives, by preschooler Zuri Brown. She guided him to his place at the front of the room where Ellen and Tauras Biskis led the room in fun Christmas carols surrounded by some of the most excited children I’ve seen including Maeve, Finn and Cormac Moriarty, Aiden and Logan Nairn, Hudson and Annalee Wike, Hazel and Lucille Stahl, Liam and Mischa Keene, Asa, Lenora, Razmus and Wyld Ruel, Nell and Mae Thompson, Latham and Gryphon Kurth and so many more. And who could forget to mention the tween posse leading back up from the corner which included Emily Boyd, Emma Bena, Maeve Cook-Martin, Grazina Biskis and Mira Davis. They were a comical and energetic bunch.

As townspeople, including Margaret Maida, Roberta Morgan, Stanley Startzell and Debbi Zetterberg looked on, the first gift of Christmas, with a round of applause, was distributed to our youngest town resident (at least at the time) Miss Vera Scheffer-Lew. The two month old was escorted to Santa’s sleigh by parents Isabelle and Jeremy where she cracked her sleepy little eyes open just in time for a quick photo opportunity with the big guy in the red suit.

The excitement in the room remained at an all time high throughout the evening as children crept closer and closer to Santa’s sleigh, occasionally climbing in alongside him, as he called each child up by name to distribute one early gift graciously contributed by the Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association. This tradition dates back about 64 or 65 years. The actual first year is a little fuzzy but I’m working on pinning it down. Great big thanks to first grader, Penny Athearn, for helping keep all the little kids somewhat contained as they eagerly awaited their turns.

The night pressed on until all of the gifts were distributed and the floor was covered in trucks, games, wrapping paper and small children sprawled out amidst it all.

The wrapping that took place at a secret location just a few nights before with Mary Murphy Boyd, Peter Keene, Laia Roig, Cody Coutinho, Tony Palmer, Allison Flanders, Jeremy Bradshaw and many more taking charge looked like a collage of Christmas joy scattered in pieces on the floor.

As always, a huge thank you goes out to the department and, of course, to Rodney Bunker for never ever complaining if the CCC wasn’t left quite the way we found it —although the effort was put in to return it to its near perfect condition. If the enthusiasm of this group isn’t enough to make you consider becoming a volunteer firefighter then I simply don’t know what is.

As the year comes to an end and 2020 is upon us I will leave you with a few words, adapted from an old Irish blessing, quoted regularly by Kathie Carroll and her mother Caroline Crocker when she was still with us: May your days be many, Your troubles few, Your loved ones safe, And your friends all true.