Rental rates could go up for events and weddings held at the Chilmark Community Center if selectmen choose to move forward with a new fee structure at their meeting next Tuesday.

Continuing a tradition that dates to 1999, the Island Community Chorus takes to the stage of the Old Whaling Church on Dec. 1 and 2 to open the Christmas season with its 20th annual holiday concert.

Led by artistic director Peter Boak and with accompanist L. Garrett Brown at the piano, the chorus will sing a program of sacred and secular pieces in English, Latin and Hebrew. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, and both shows will be followed by a reception downstairs in the Baylies Room featuring treats prepared by members of the choir.

The All-Island Elementary String Concert is Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at the regional high school. One hundred and forty two students from the Island elementary schools will take the stage. There will be selections from the Suzuki repertoire, with highlights including an orchestral arrangement from Haydn’s Quartet Op. 33, # 3, The Bird, and Richard Meyer’s Joust,  along with seasonal numbers.

The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury is beginning its holiday season with the annual Christmas Faire, held on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 9:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The centerpiece of the faire are the boxwood wreaths, hand picked and hand crafted by the church ladies each year. There will also be holiday centerpieces, jewelry and gift items, baked goods and fair trade coffee.

I do not recall Thanksgiving Day being so cold as this past week. This is only, of course, in Vineyard memory. Thanksgiving in Rew, Pa. was another story. We always went down the valley to grandparents Kate and Bill Irons, Dad’s family. He was one of 12 children so there were boatloads of cousins. There was usually snow on the ground already. The sleds and snowmobiles were located in the barn and we were off until dinner was served.

More late fall and winter residents have arrived this week, perhaps riding the blast of Arctic air we got on Thanksgiving and the day after. I can not remember two days of below freezing temperatures over Thanksgiving before. So far, the cold snap has not brought us many more northern birds. This may change if water up north remains frozen.

So, a legless crab walks into a wildlife sanctuary.

The Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Program is offering a new program with free evening hours at its office in Vineyard Haven.

A huge holiday crowd of kids wearing red antlers and parents sipping hot cocoa filled Post Office Square Wednesday evening for the annual Oak Bluffs tree lighting.

Tisbury selectmen voted 2-1 Tuesday night to send a letter to Mass DOT opposing the Beach Road improvement plan as it is now designed.