It does not even seem like Christmas, other than the carols being sung on most radio stations or the television programs for every age category being watched. Decorations and lights across the Vineyard. The temperatures have been rather warm and it is anticipated that on Christmas Day it would be about 60 degrees. Of course, there is the chance of accompanying wind to change the scenery a little. By now all the shopping has been completed, wrapped, delivered or mailed across the miles. Today is Boxing Day in Canada but we have missed that for the past 30 decades at this point in time. It will be nice to see 2014 come to a close. Let’s pray for peace in the New Year.

Thank you to Lang, Irina and Sacha Gerhard for displaying a large peace sign on the shoreline of East Pasture which is visible as you enter Aquinnah. It is certainly a welcoming sight this time of year, or really any time.

Serving Hands Family to Family Food distribution was held on Dec. 19 at First Baptist Church parish house. Once again, there were many who volunteered their services to make the distribution run as efficiently as possible. In addition to the usual volunteers, we were joined by a few members of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School football team again, staff from Vineyard Complementary Medicine, businessman Mike Wallace, Eric and Molly Glasgow of Grey Barn Farm generously donated their specialty Eidolon cheese, Bob Pacheco and his family generously donated food from Reliable Market as they do throughout most of the year, but especially during the holidays, Stop & Shop donated as did Cronig’s Market and Morning Glory Farm. The MV Center for Living funds the distribution and it is brought to the Vineyard by way of Island Food Products, where much of it is stored until distribution day. Thank you to Betty Burton who coordinates the distribution and is assisted by her husband John Sundman — without them there would be many hungry families, especially during the holidays.

The Chicken Alley Thrift Shop needs your help. The staff will hold their first annual “Odd Ball” New Years Eve Bash at the Ritz in Oak Bluffs on Dec. 31. It will be a come as you want dance party, so dress up or dress down, wear a costume or whatever. Music will be by DJ Rastoe and DJ Wep One. Tickets are $20 per person or the ticket for $30 will include a late night breakfast buffet served between 1 and 2 a.m. There will be special prizes for the Odd Ball King and Queen. Proceeds will benefit Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Chicken Alley Thrift Shop.

The Thrift Shop will soon be closing for a week or so to have the floor painted at last. There is also a very generous gentleman who has offered to construct new shelves by donating his labor.

Tony Lombardi and Ray Whitaker would like to remind elders that if you happen to be the recipient of new technology for Christmas, i.e. an I-Pad, or I-Phone, etc., there will be an Elder Tech Fair at Alex’s Place at the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. The local teenagers will assist the elders with all of their technology questions.

Barbara Gentry and her sister Joan Patadal are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with Joan’s daughter Beatrice Patadal. Bea is presently attending nursing school in Oklahoma and is looking forward to a New England celebration.

Get well wishes to Virginia Hall who has been a patient at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She anticipates spending a few hours at home with her family on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day while still undergoing her medical treatments.

Congratulations to James W. Hubert Jr. who won his election in November. James has been an acting justice of the Westchester County Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District. He spent most of his summer campaigning, missing Aquinnah for a few weeks. He won the election, making him judge-elect of the Supreme Court 9th District. He is also a judge for the Westchester County Court. James has been a summer resident of Aquinnah since childhood, where his family has maintained their property for more than a century. He is married to Jody Queen-Hubert and they are the parents of Jonathan and Andrea. Judge Hubert is the son of the late Dr. James W. Hubert and Hermie of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Aquinnah.

Theresa Manning celebrated her birthday over the weekend while she and Paul were in Providence, R.I. They met up with Amy Lilavois, Scott Mullin, Mary Ibsen and Caleb Caldwell to join in the celebration. Lots of laughs, shopping, fine dining and rest. Sunday evening, Theresa was treated to another celebration with a dozen of her friends with dinner at Atria.

Capt. Hugh Taylor and his first mate Jeanne have arrived at the Outermost Inn to spend Christmas with their family after a brief sojourn to the Caribbean. They will enjoy Christmas with his mom Trudy Taylor, with their daughter Alexandra and her husband Shaun MacPhail and their children Olive and Violet, and with their son Isaac and his wife Noli and their children Emmett and Tillie. Of course, they will also gather with their extended Flanders and Smith families while in town.

Happy New Year. Peace. Practice random acts of kindness each and every day. While doing last minute shopping on Monday, I learned of several acts of kindness from a young couple and their daughters, covering those who are ill and those who are facing extensive surgery, and a young man near Boston who will be pleasantly surprised on Christmas Day.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Lang Gerhard on Dec. 28 who shares the day with Barbara Sundy Smith and Paul Vandal. Charlotte Bologna will be three years old on Dec. 29. Olive and Violet MacPhail will be nine years old on Dec. 31.

Dr. Timothy E. Guiney, my faithful cardiologist, will observe his special day on Jan. 2. Donald Widdiss parties on Dec. 2.

Send your Aquinnah news to: junemanning152@gmail.com.