By SUSAN CATLING

Subjects from the recreational to the practical brought Vineyarders out in the cold and dark to attend Adult Community Education of Martha’s Vineyard (ACE MV) classes at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School this fall.

Educator and program director Lynn Ditchfield announced that the first trimester attracted 154 students to 16 classes. Of those, about 30 gathered at the high school last Friday to celebrate the end of the fall term and to share a bit of what they learned with fellow students.

Howdy, Damon

Kelley Henry and Antone Silvia of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Damon Robert Silvia, born on Nov. 17, 2008 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Damon weighed 8 pounds, .2 ounces at birth.

JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

I am writing before Thanksgiving Day and can only hope that all went well with your holiday dinner and family reunion. There are many events to keep us busy and entertained for the next few weeks.

Remember, Chilmark Chocolates will be open all this weekend.

JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Elin R. Nelson, a senior at Falmouth Academy, is one of 12 Falmouth Academy students recognized by the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program because of their high scores on the qualifying test they took last fall. Elin was named a commended student. She is the daughter of Jeffrey Nelson and Dawne Charters-Nelson of Vineyard Haven. Of the more than 1.5 million high school juniors across the country who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test,34,000 were commended for their exceptional academic promise.

NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Most of us are still recovering after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner yesterday that was shared with family and friends. Today is the traditional start of the Christmas season and considered by retail merchants the busiest shopping day of the year. However with the economy the way it is it may not be true this year. Did you know that there are just 27 shopping days remaining before Christmas?

HOLLY NADLER

508-687-9239

(hollynadler@gmail.com)

Dr. David Finkelstein of Vineyard Haven recently attended a meeting of the Optometric Retina Society in Boston for the society’s fifth annual conference. Among other things, the conference brought together experts in the field of macular degeneration, retinal vascular disease and cataract surgery in patients with diabetes. There was discussion and information about the many new emerging technologies in the field and advances in nutritional therapy as it relates to macular degeneration.

KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

Well now that the Arctic air is over maybe we can get on with the holidays. The night skies have been beautiful and I love that Orion is back over the house this time of year.