Over the past year on the Vineyard, there was plenty of wind, storms for almost every season and so much summer sun there was a concern about drought.
A big ocean storm in April opened the barrier beach at Norton Point to the ocean. A northeaster on Valentine’s Day and another last month with near-hurricane winds kept reminding Vineyarders the ocean can get nasty.
In other words, it was another classic year of variable New England weather on the Island.
HOLLY NADLER
508-693-3880
Hey, who knew Dean Martin wrote Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas? I just learned this important piece of information from Terry Gross on National Public Radio. Judy Garland first sang it in Meet Me in St. Louis. She gave it a tragic subtext, but basically it’s a merry little song, as witnessed by the fact that the average American is likely to hear Have Yourself 437 times per Christmas season (statistical data supplied by The Nadler Research Group).
MARGARET KNIGHT
508-627-8894
When we walked down the Chappaquiddick Road on Christmas Day, the sun was out and the air was still. There were no sounds of any kind of motors to be heard — it was almost at the half hour and the ferry ran on the hour that day — so we had the road to ourselves. Other walkers and runners and running dogs were out enjoying the perfect Vineyard early-winter day.
JANE N. SLATER
508-645-3378
Chilmark enjoyed a clear Christmas Eve with a full moon outshining all of the holiday lights around town. A brisk wind made the annual Christmas Day beach walks an invigorating experience. The coming week promises to be uneventful as the children enjoy their vacation and family reunions continue throughout the New Year’s celebration.
Winter Soup
The Chilmark Community Church at 9 Menemsha Crossroad will host winter soup suppers in the fellowship room on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 8 from 5 to 6 p.m.
The suppers are open to the community. A free-will offering basket will be available. If you would like to volunteer to make a pot of soup or bring some bread, please call Vicky and Armen Hanjian at 508-696-8225.
Top Runner
Amory Salem of Edgartown, who has won the women’s division of the Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K Race in Oak Bluffs several times, was the top finisher overall in this year’s Thanksgiving race. Mrs. Salem also was the female winner in the Chilmark Road Race this past summer.
JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Phyllis Meras of Music street reports that we did not have any snow on Christmas Day as the temperature reached 46 degrees. The automobile traffic in town was nearly non-existent most of the day as families gathered around their tree to exchange gifts and enjoy a family dinner. Relatives and friends came by to visit in the lat e afternoon. The church was well attended at the two services held on Christmas Eve.
JUNE D. MANNING
508-645-2574
The Rev. David Berube will be the guest minister at Community Baptist Church on Sunday. Reverend Berube is a member of the Oak Bluffs Police Department and serves as chaplain for at Otis Air Force Base.
Of Bells and a Thousand
Years of Peace
The calendar points to the moment of Monday midnight, to the tolling of the Island bells, to that time in our lives when old becomes new and we wonder what lies ahead. These are the days just before and just after the first bell strikes that we find most appropriate for that old and familiar greeting spoken so comfortably and without rancor. Happy New Year is the refrain now heard across the Island, in every corner of every Vineyard township.
