Before taking a little breather from day to day reality, Deb Hancock and Patrick Echlin hit the ball out of the park with their, we shall call, ode to Santa at Hancock Real Estate. Not only are there twinkly lights and greenery to make your heart sing, but there is a spot-on brick chimney (not intended for fires). What a festive way to kick off the holiday season.

Speaking of the holiday season, Santa is getting his act together and eagerly anticipating strolling into the Chilmark Community Center to visit with Chilmark kids aged newborn through fifth grade. If you are new to town, please let Santa’s elf — that would be me — know so we’ve got your wee ones name(s) on the list. Squidrow@vineyard.net is my preferred method of communication.

The Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association has sponsored Santa’s visit to town for just about seven decades. If you’d like to make a tax deductible donation towards the cause, it would be appreciated. The elves’ salary to make the toys and Santa’s travel expenses from the North Pole are noteworthy. You can drop an envelop to P.O. Box 580 in Chilmark.

Christina Colarusso, Victor Silva, Billy Johnson and Travis Tack — all members of the Chilmark fire department — have been continuing their firefighter training at the Oak Bluffs fire station. This past week, flashover simulator training was the highlight.

Santa paid a visit to the kiddos whose folks are stationed at USCG Station Menemsha this past weekend. He swooped in by helicopter and passed out gifts. Despite his very busy schedule he stuck around for photos and conversation. Of course, Patrick Shanahan was Santa’s right hand ma, helping dish out the gifts. I think Patrick has the best party morale at the station.

Gloria Burkin will be celebrating her 80th birthday just after Christmas. What better way to acknowledge the occasion just a bit early than with cheese and cake at her artist’s reception? Her exhibit Coming Back Into the Light will be up at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center through Jan. 1. The reception, and therefore birthday cake, is Dec. 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. Gloria’s daughters Jennifer and Lisa will be there. Also joining the fun is her son Michael.

It’s doubtful that their rescue foster pup Lena will be in attendance since she still has a few puppy tendencies, but she will certainly come up in conversation. I had the pleasure of meeting Lena the other day. The two-year old is just about 55 pounds and tried very hard to listen to commands. She’s a tad anxious at times but quickly warmed up to me once she realized I was a good scratcher and calm talker. She’s looking for her forever home and is patiently waiting with the Burkin family.

She’s done it. The amazing Jane Slater has published her book. The Mosher Family Tree went to press. Although a very limited number was printed, therefore I haven’t been able to get my hands on it yet, I am certain it is a wonderful collection of family history. Jane is a wealth of information and a downright pleasure to talk to. Her family tree took her to Australia, where she connected with her cousin Kerin Mosher. Kerin, in turn, has visited Jane in Chilmark. What a delightful opportunity and reason to put yet another place setting on the table. Genealogy is a fascinating thing.

How does that Beatles song go, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I’m 64?” Tom Porter of Shrewsbury and Menemsha Crossroad asked that very question on Dec. 5 as he celebrated, you guessed it, his sixty-fourth birthday. Oh happy day.

The Chilmark police department, along with neighboring departments in Aquinnah and West Tisbury, is hosting a non-perishable food, pet food and cleaning product drive on behalf of Island Food Pantry. Donations can be dropped by the station from now until February. Next time you purchase items for yourself, grab an extra item to donate. Officer Bill Fielder is eager to have Chilmark be the top donor.

Look out drivers. We have a newly-permitted Delilah Oliver behind the wheel. She answered the questions correctly on that pesky exam and they gave her a little piece of paper granting her the opportunity to get behind the wheel alongside a licensed driver. Way to go, kiddo.