Santa’s helpers have been hard at work preparing for the man in the red suit to make a pit stop at the CCC next Thursday, Dec. 19 to distribute the first gifts of Christmas. For nearly a century, Santa has been coaxed away from the North Pole to bring a little holiday cheer to the tiniest of Chilmark residents. I know, many of you have your lights up and trees have taken center stage in many a living room, but what really marks the season for me is this party. It’s all about Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Santa’s ho, ho, ho, hot mulled cider, potluck dishes brought by you, but most of all, the excited faces on small children.

How does this all happen? A volunteer firefighter treks up to the North Pole in the fire truck (since the reindeer are resting for their upcoming world wide flight) and buckles Santa into the front seat and drives him back to the CCC in order to have a meet and greet with our town’s kids.

Santa hands out gifts that the Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association has purchased for all of the wee ones residing in Chilmark. After all, we couldn’t expect the elves to make more just for us. They have been working around the clock as it is. Although the gift giving portion of the event is by invitation, all are welcome to bring a dish, enjoy community cheer and watch as the children are called up by name for a quick little one-on-one with Santa. It doesn’t matter what faith you are, nor does it matter if you believe in Santa — what does matter is that you believe in community and keeping up with tradition.

Since we are sort of on that gift-giving theme, I’ll remind you about the Chilmark Christmas Flea on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the CCC. There will be Christmas items, but also lunch offerings, vendors reminiscent of summers on North Road, and plenty of treasures worthy of gifting. It will surely be a sweet spot to find one-of-a-kind items, have lunch and catch up with friends.

The holidays are a time to expand our community spirit. Before she and Dickie Vincent moved to Florida, we had Susan Vincent, and later the dynamic duo of Tom Ruimerman and Janet Weidner, to thank for coordinating Christmas Eve food drop offs at Station Menemsha. This year, there’s no official coordination, but a simple reminder from me to you to think of the folks on the hill as you prepare your holiday meals. Those standing watch for the holidays would welcome the gift of some home cooked Christmas goodness.

I realize we are all busy, but if you happen to be wrapping a dozen scallops with bacon then why not wrap two dozen and deliver some. If you happen to be baking a pie then why not peel an extra six apples and make a second for delivering? Why not buy a little extra shrimp cocktail and drop it off on your way home from the fish market. The list of suggestions, obviously, goes on and on. Christmas cheer can be dropped off at Station Menemsha on Christmas Eve day with their fabulous cook and kitchen coordinator, Tyler Vanderhaden.

Billie Hancock is in town to spread some holiday cheer and bring a little warmth from her home in sunny F-L-A . Daughter Buffy and grandson Christian will share their time with her so friends and extended family can have a little quality catch up time with her, too.

The father son team of Wayne and Vinny Iacono continue to be productive on the commercial scalloping front. They have been fortunate to get their limit. Let me rephrase that, we are fortunate they have been getting their limit. It means plenty of scallops are making their way to market.

A quick little shout-out goes to my cheery, wide smiling, figure skating neighbor, Mae Thompson. She’s now a pretty stellar eight year old. Happy happiness.