Hagen Contributions

In the spirit of community and giving, the profits of your tree purchase at Jim’s Package Store and Island Market will be donated to Dede Hagen who is fighting her battle with cancer.

Dede is the 43-year-old mother of two young children and wife of John Hagen, an Island artist. Dede has lived on the Vineyard for over 10 years and has taught third and fourth grade at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School.

The Cape Cod and the Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross is urging people to take action to prepare themselves for the impending winter storms. After yesterday’s a potentially severe northeaster is expected on Saturday night and Sunday. Depending on the nature of the precipitation, that storm could cause power outages.

Before winter weather strikes, the Red Cross advises:

• Make sure your vehicle is filled with fuel.

• Make sure you have an ample supply of prescription medications and other essential needs.

Good news: colored Christmas lights are back. Some of the more advanced Christmas-lights fashionistas might have been aware of this trend building for some time but, as far as I’m concerned, the whole wonderful, old-fashioned style has exploded on the scene this year.

Early in 2007, a grant application went to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) from the Oak Bluffs selectmen seeking monies to allow low and moderate-income homeowners on the Vineyard to address code, safety and health deficiencies in their residences. The funds for this moderate home rehabilitation program originate in Washington, D.C. at the Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD).

Design Award

Hutker Architects Inc. of Vineyard Haven and Falmouth has received Wood Design & Building magazine’s Merit Award for the Snow Point residence on Chappaquiddick.

Hutker was given the award at the Wood Design Awards held at the National Gallery of Canada on Oct. 26. The residence was selected from more than 200 entries.

Hutker Architects is an architectural and interior design firm with offices in Vineyard Haven and Falmouth.

The Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association has named Robert E. Clermont its new general manager and executive director.

Mr. Clermont brings 35 years of business management and community involvement experience to the association. He and his family have been residents of Edgartown for the past 19 years. During this time Mr. Clermont served first as the general manager, then owner of Adventure Rentals, Inc.

MARGARET KNIGHT

508-627-8894

(margaret02539@yahoo.com)

During this time of year that seems the darkest, especially with all the gray days, the holiday lights come on all over the Island to cheer us up. Dick and Judy Dimond have their decorations up again on Sampson avenue. People are gathering indoors to eat, drink and be merry — in celebration of much that has to do with light and life.

KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kcase1@verizon.net)

Can you believe that Christmas is only 11 days away? I don’t know about anyone else, but I had better start shopping. The time is going by too fast.

Island Library Amnesty

All six Island libraries have declared an amnesty on overdue material fines from Dec. 17 to 30. Instead of fines, the libraries will be collecting canned goods for the Island Food Pantry. Patrons who return overdue materials during this period will not be charged fines if they make a non-perishable food donation.

On the eve of the black powder deer season, Island marksmen participated in the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club Black Powder Shoot Sunday.

In the open sight division, Nicholas Giliberto, 15, of Vineyard Haven bested marksmen with considerably more experience. Nicholas had a high score of 61.

The young Island student hit two eight marks in the standing deer category; an eight and ten mark in the running deer, and shot an eight, reloaded in 68 seconds and shot a ten in the reload portion of the contest.