It has been a rather gray and rainy week but Sunday was a glorious day to enjoy the sunshine and the 50-degree temperature. Menemsha was packed as if it were a summer day. Menemsha Texaco was quite busy, people mingled along the beach and the dock while meandering down to Menemsha Fish Market for lunch. While out and about at night, it was encouraging to see many seasonal homes being occupied not only for the holiday but for the winter season as well. Now we head into our hibernation due to the Covid-19 pandemic which is still in our lives.

We can be very thankful that thus far our Aquinnah community has not been affected. We were not affected in 1918 and not in 2020.

Just a reminder, it is hunting season for the month of December. Shotgun season runs through Dec. 12 and then primitive firearm season through to Dec. 31. Please wear bright orange apparel while you are out walking, jogging or bicycling. Hunters are in the woods from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Please be cautious.

The Island Grown Initiative schedule for up-Island is Tuesday’s at the Howe’s House from 3 to 4 p.m. and at the Tribal Housing Authority building from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Please order online for pick-up only at mobilemarketorders.square.site to place your order. They still have a great selection of fresh produce available.

The 96th Macy’s Thanksgiving parade was not canceled. Instead it was held without any spectators this year. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was represented by Anawon and Brian Weeden who performed a rattle song as well as a blessing in the Wopanak language. This was a first, in recognition of land acknowledgement. Brian was formerly the youth coordinator for the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe.

Joan LeLacheur will be hostessing an open house for the next few weeks and will be open by appointment. She may be reached at seashelljewell.com, 508-645-9954,or 508-939-1691.

Zach Macey is at the home of his parents Jon and Amy Macey, on break from his studies at Proctor Academy. Marcie Klebanoff and Julie Rosen joined them for Thanksgiving.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Carol Merry deBettencourt who passed away at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on Nov. 22. Carol’s services were held this past Saturday. She is survived by her siblings Joan Merry, Deborah Merry Magnuson and David Merry, all of West Tisbury, as well as her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Adalena Elizabeth Araujo Vanderhoop who passed away unexpectedly at her Woodside Village home on Nov. 25. Lena, as she was known by all, was the daughter of the late Julio Araujo, Sr. and Mary (Silvia) Moreis Araujo. She was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 1964 and was a most loved and appreciated nursing assistant for the Visiting Nurse Association. Lena is survived by her children Troy Vanderhoop, Sr. and Melissa Vanderhoop Abram and their children and grandchildren. Her services were held at Chapman, Cole and Gleason on Tuesday evening, and at St. Augustine’s Church on Wednesday morning.

Anchors aweigh to USCG BM2 Joel Behr as he heads to the Arctic this week, a change in plans for the USCG Icebreaker Polar Star which usually sails to Antarctica this time of year but due to the Covid-19 pandemic their schedule changed.

Happy Birthday wishes this week to Bradley Fielder on Dec. 2; Our forever efficient Fedex driver Jeff Sayre will party on Dec. 5; Nelson Sigelman will most likely be deer hunting on Dec. 6 as he observes a milestone; Liz Durkee will also observe a milestone on Dec. 6; Jonathan Klaren and Marjorie Spitz share the day on Dec. 7; Sasha Gerhard will party on Dec. 8, sharing the day with Candace Nichols, Tom Gellsthorpe and twins Robin and Russell Smith; Polly Renear will celebrate on Dec. 9 as will Deborah Hancock and Paul Henry Jeffers-Mayhew; Tamara Buchwald parties on Dec. 10; Christopher P. Manning will celebrate his special day on Dec. 12.