The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation is accepting inquiries for its 2015 Learning Disabilities grant cycle.

With more than a hint of winter in the Chappy air, I am reminded of the yin and yang of this particular season. Gone are the afternoons swims, but also missing are the horseflies and mosquitoes, Chappy taketh and Chappy giveth away.

Professor Ellen Weiss’s iconic and evocative book City in the Woods points out that in February 1879, just before our incorporation as Cottage City in 1880, there were 769 cottages and 1,058 taxable buildings. There were also two steam mills, 15 hotels, two markets, two blacksmiths, seven grocery stores and three churches. We were a town of 150 families that included 132 voters. Farm Neck, Eastville, Wesleyan Grove and of course the brand new Oak Bluffs had grown to a township that continued to amaze visitors.

Holiday activity is humming at a fever pitch around town. Folks are coming from near and far to be with family and friends for Thanksgiving. All town buildings, post office, bank and 7a foods will be closed on Thanksgiving, creating a long weekend for many of us.

Ah sweet mysteries of fruitcake! Holly Nadler has a very interesting theme going on on her Facebook page right now about the best recipes for fruitcake. Betty Burton weighed in with her grandmother’s not so secret recipe that included soaking the finished product in cheesecloth soaked in bourbon, making it at Thanksgiving time and distributing it at Christmas.

GO VINEYARDERS! KEEP THE CUP! HARPOON THE WHALERS!! The annual Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket football game will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Daniel G. McCarthy Football Field.

Last Saturday night was a real surprise with temperatures dipping into the teens here in Vineyard Haven.

The pride and sense of accomplishment was tremendous as we placed a bough of a white pine tree atop of our newly framed home.

Mariza Oliveira and Samuel Oliveira of Edgartown announce the birth of a daughter, Jaslyn Eli Paim Oliveira, born on Nov. 18.

Oak Bluffs EMTs and paramedics will now add firefighting work to their regular duties. The change is part of an effort to consolidate the town’s firefighting and ambulance forces. Volunteer firefighters will continue to assist in the event of a large fire or accident.