With Christmas just around the corner, I have been thinking cherries.

Dear Heather:

I was thinking about you the other day so I thought I’d write you a quick note.

The first word that always comes to mind when I think of you is feisty! Remember 10 or 15 years ago, the after-work drinks downtown when you were ready to take on the whole bar? Then the next morning at the Morning Glory Farm company meeting you looked pretty worn out.

I am disturbed, and I am old — almost three quarters of a century. What’s disturbing is not my oldness — I don’t feel that most days. It’s our U.S. Congress that disturbs and disappoints, especially those senators who voted on Dec. 4 against better lives for the lower economic classes of our citizens — middle class and the poor — by holding out for tax cuts for the rich, ironically, the ones who could afford to pay more towards our deficit without disturbing the comfort of their lives.

Dick Jennings works for The Trustees of Reservations on Chappaquiddick. He is their natural history guide there and he seasonally leads tours that introduce people to the extraordinary stretch of coastline that connects Wasque Point at the southeast corner of the Vineyard to the tidal gut that defines the end of the long peninsula arching around Cape Pogue Bay. He has been observing this habitat for years and he is clearly in touch with what goes on there in the natural realm.

L ongevity is in Rose Treat’s genes. Her Polish grand mother lived to be 104.

On Dec. 7, 2010, Rose Treat celebrated her 102nd birthday surrounded by her friends at her home on Sengekontacket, which she shares with two part-time caregivers: Debbie Jewfry and Denise Walsh.

FISHERMEN’S FIGHT

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

First, I would like to clarify that I am not a lawyer; though my education is in insurance law, there was no way I was going to sit behind a desk. Ever.

Second, thank you for your story about the event that we held at the P.A. Club last weekend. I am sure that the excellently written article brought many of the attending crowd to the event.

Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s Lesson

With the dust still settling from the Edgartown special town meeting this week, the next task at hand is for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to ask itself some hard, probing questions, and central among them is this: Has the commission grown out of touch with the Island community?

Young Wrappers

The Martha’s Vineyard Ecumenical Youth Group will be providing Christmas gift wrapping on Saturday, Dec. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Edgartown Federated Church, at 45 South Summer street. Relax with a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate and let the wrappers take care of making your presents look perfect.

All donations will go towards the youth group’s 2011 Mission Trip.

World Team Tennis debuted at the Vineyard Tennis Center Workout and Spa on Sunday, Dec. 12. Ladies’ doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles were played in a team format.

Dave Larson coached the Sharks and Connie McHugh coached Ray and the Quahogs.

Each division played a full set with no ad scoring. Let serves that landed in were “good” and could be played by either receiving team player. Cheering and coaching were also allowed.

Flu Shots

Vineyard Scrips will be offering free flu shots on the following dates:

Tuesday, Dec. 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Monday, Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vineyard Scrips is located at 117 Beach Road in Vineyard Haven.