Edward W. Brooke of Newton and Oak Bluffs became the first African American ever elected to the United States Senate by a popular vote.

On the 2d of the present month occurred the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Capt. and Mrs. William A. Martin, well-known residents of Chappaquiddick. Mrs. Martin was before her marriage Sarah G. Brown, daughter of Abram Brown, and as Sarah Martin has been long and favorably known to our townspeople and also to many of our summer residents.

Capt. Martin has been a paralytic for the past seven years, and is now practically helpless, and for this reason no special celebration of the fiftieth wedding anniversary was made at the time.

The duty of sustaining our government in the present contest, has taken the strongest hold upon the public mind in all the loyal States. The progress of the rebellion and the advance in preparations to put it down, serves to increase rather than diminish the sentiment, that, at all sacrifices, we must strangle and tread under foot this slimy, deadly-fanged serpent, hatched in the atmosphere of Southern skies.

Two of the anthems sung by the Union Chapel choir last Sunday were new arrangements of Harry T. Burleigh’s “Were You There When They Crucified Him” and “Deep River.”  Mr. Burleigh, one of the country’s eminent composers, was present in the congregation. Mr. Burleigh is, as well, a noted baritone whose voice is heard over the radio from the vespers of St. George’s Episcopal Church, New York, where he is a soloist. He is a regular summer visitor to Oak Bluffs.

The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce is now a reality. This association, from which it is hoped much will be accomplished in the future for the material prosperity of the Island, has now perfected its permanent organization.

It’s officers and committees, printed below, will be seen to be some of the Island’s representative men, and all of them have the Island’s best interests at heart.

The organization is as follows:

I saw Joe Frenchfries at the T.C.D. concert the other night. He was sitting in the front row with the gang from the Black Dog. Enthusiastic fans, they all relished the typical T.C.D. pranks including midget Christmas carolers and a moped ridden through the audience.

Timothy, Charles and Duane, or TCD as the group is best known to its contemporary musical audience, will give its second annual Christmas show in three performances this weekend at the Katharine Cornell Memorial Theatre in Tisbury. Show time begins at 8:30 Friday and Saturday evenings. A special matinee performance for Island children will be given at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Charles Esposito of the group said, “Santa Clause will be part of the show.” Mr. Clause is expected to play a central role in the matinee show Saturday.

Anything can happen at a T.C.D. concert - and it usually does. The three musicians, Timothy Maxwell, Charles Esposito and Duane Gieseman, have perfected a musical comedy act that keeps their audience breathlessly anticipating the next gig.

“Mr. Timothy Charles Duane” was in great form for their benefit concerts given last week to raise money for Martha’s Vineyard Arena Inc. Plenty of original music, a door prize drawing, the guest appearance of Santa, frequent costume changes and exuberant lighting effects made for a lively evening’s entertainment.

A national day of mourning is to be observed by Indians from all parts of the country at Plymouth on Thanksgiving Day, with Gay Head’s Indians - members of the Wampanoag tribe - among those serving as hosts. The solemn two-day event will begin the night before Thanksgiving at the Bourne High School and will continue until mid-afternoon Thursday, in Plymouth, when the annual Pilgrim Parade is scheduled to begin.

The Edgartown Yacht Club’s gala festivity of the year took place Friday night at the club when children from 10 to 18, and an even greater number of adult spectators, gathered for the annual fancy dress ball. Carrying out the theme of Denizens of the Deep in Fact and Fiction, the decorations, painted by Ruth Appledoorn Mead’s art class, consisted of flat models of fish and other sea animals hung from the ceiling and adorning the walls. Balloons were also strung above the dance floor.