Well, the weekend weather was a mixed bag with a lot of rain on Sunday, wind and above average temperatures. It has been cold and miserable enough to close the Dumptique until March. The focus of the day other than the usual dump run was the Patriots football game to most everyone. There were a handful of cars on the roads during the game as most everyone settled in to watch the Patriots destroy the Colts and move on to the Super Bowl. Congratulations!

Anna Alley returned home Monday evening after a weekend visiting our grandchildren Robbie and Henry and daughter Nicole. She reports that Henry is now walking and discovering new things daily, and Robbie has started preschool three days a week. They visited her sister Nina in Providence, and enjoyed many other activities making it a full weekend.

Bernice Kirby reports that her son Pierce was the guest of honor at a surprise birthday party recently by Gerry Conover and his wife. Needless to say, everyone had a great time.

Cynthia Riggs of Edgartown Road reports that everyone is invited to the 27th annual Groundhog Day celebration on Monday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cleaveland House. All are welcome. Bring your favorite hors d’oeuvres if you’d like, but that’s not a requirement. Parking will be in the west pasture and can easily be reached if you take the first left as you turn down New Lane Road. For more information, call her at 508-693-9352. In addition to the good food and friends, it is generally believed to be the beginning of the political season.

Speaking of the political season, town clerk Tara Whiting reminds us that nomination papers are now available in her office. Those folks up for re-election and for anyone aspiring to elective office, papers must be returned to her by Feb. 19. The warrant closes on Feb. 3. The annual town meeting will be April 7, and the town election will be April 9.

Susan Sigel Goldsmith reports that the Chilmark School PTO will host the Red Hot Blues Bash featuring the Mike Benjamin Band tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. It is sure to be a fun night on the town with live music, silent and live auctions, desserts galore and much more. This is the annual school fundraiser which benefits the Chilmark School PTO and Outing Program. Tickets are $20 online or at the door. Online tickets have no processing fee. The silent auction includes over 50 truly unique items. Desserts and beverages are included with admission.

Saturday the 29th annual WMVY Big Chili Contest is the place to be to warm up on a chilly day. Get out your recipe or just come to sample all the many different kinds of chili. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs.

Amy Hoff over at the library reports that on Sunday at 4 p.m. the Berlin/Johnson Jazz Duo will perform at the library for a free musical event. Pianist Jeremy Berlin and guitarist Eric T. Johnson will perform jazz standards, originals and lesser-known gems. On Monday at 7 p.m. the library will host its first Writers Read evening. This event features community members reading short original prose pieces. Both fiction and nonfiction readings are welcome, and each reader is allotted six minutes to read. A critique to follow the reading is optional. Sign up to read in advance by calling 508-693-4307 or take a chance and sign up that day. Amy announces that on four Saturdays, Jan. 31 through Feb. 21, Laura Edelman will be teaching yoga classes for tweens and teens. The tween classes will be from 10:15 to 11 a.m. and the teen classes will be from 11:15 a.m. to noon. Classes are limited to eight participants per session. The classes are free and open to the public, and you can register at the library. Remember to wear comfortable clothing.

Anna Carringer reports that on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, popular films Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (Jan. 28); Dr. Strangelove (Feb. 11) and Easy Rider (Feb. 25) will be shown.

Happy birthday to Kristine Scheffer, Claire Rush, Georgianna White, Alexandra Rothwell, Willie Levesque and Aidan Huntington today; Zack Wiesner, Anja Thompson, Lewis Waring and Dan Sharkovitz tomorrow; Abigail Higgins, Tony Omer, Mitchell Gordon and Justin Polishook on Sunday; Susan Oken, Ed Sylvia, Harold Lawry, Melissa Clay, Cathleen Vincent and Leigh Hammond on Monday; Kristen Zern, Tim Mathiesen, Susan Sigel Goldsmith, Taggart Young and Tom Engley on Tuesday; Jamie Alley, Susannah Tilton-Clancy, Abigail Stanwood, and John Barkin on Wednesday, and to Janice Ovios, Pamela Speir, Joyce Wagner and Joshua Rich on Thursday. Belated anniversary greetings to Chris and Diane Abbot.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or email me. Have a great week.

Send your West Tisbury news to: alleys@vineyard.net.