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.

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Stephen Dunham’s back and Vineyard Haven has him. Stephen returned a few weeks ago from South Dakota and is at his Mom’s, Martha’s. Soon his two kids, Stephen Jr., and Rebecca, will return from college for the holiday break. The whole gang is almost here!

The following Tisbury School students received honors for the first quarter:

Eighth Grade High Honors: EmmaJean Holley, Christine Janak, Allison McAndrews, Courtney Mussell, Noelle Nelson, John Shannon, Drew Teora, John Tripp.

Eighth Grade Honors: Riley Donegan, Frederick Hehre, Haley Hewson, Margaret Johnson, Alyssa Laslovich, Rafael Maciel, Trevor Maciel, Michael Montanile, Olivia Cimeno, David Seidman, Michael Sylvia, Liam Wallace, Andrew Williamson.

The Polly Hill Arboretum will be able to produce the accession tag and display labels which are used on every plant in the arboretum’s living collection, thanks to an Epilog laser engraving label system it will purchase with a $14,400 grant from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust.

Having the ability to produce these labels in-house helps arboretum staff to upgrade curatorial management of their collections and allows data linkage between computerized collections records.

Deadline Looms for

Island Health Insurance

Saturday, Dec. 15 is the last day that Islanders can sign up for health insurance with Vineyard Health Care Access Program and get accepted by Jan. 1.

Massachusetts residents will lose their personal deduction on their state income tax if they cannot prove they have health insurance by that date.

The program, which began in 1999, helps Islanders who need access to affordable plans and related health-care resources. More information is available by calling 508-696-0020.