JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

([email protected])

Old Jack Frost paid us a brief visit last week with temperatures, in some places, dipping into the low 20s. We had over two inches of rain since Sunday, and it has been raw, with the wind blowing some gusts in excess of 40 mph. We did have a few snowflakes mixed in with sleet for a brief time in the afternoon. The leaves have been falling fast since the first frost, and the trees are now nearly bare from the storm that has lingered on for three days. As you may have noticed, the deer have been moving around lately, due primarily to the hunting season, and they sometimes find themselves in the strangest places. One of them was spotted behind the post office in North Tisbury on Tuesday.

Marian Irving, of Old County Road, reports that the First Congregational Church will hold their annual Christmas Faire on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Preparations have begun for the annual West Tisbury Christmas Faire at the church. Volunteers are gathering supplies for their fresh wreath workshops, calls are being made for the food table, and the luncheon menu is in place. Vicky Bartels and Ruth Schaffner are cochairing the event. For more information, call the church office at 508-693-2842.

Sig Van Raan and his wife, Susan Dickler, of Music street recently returned from a four week trip to Europe, first a week in Holland, then a three week stay in Paris. In Holland, he did some research on his book about the Dutch resistance during World War II. They spent an evening with Rudi Klijnkramer, who as a young Jewish boy in 1942 was taken in by Sig’s parents while his parents were in hiding at a farm outside of Amsterdam. After the war the family was reunited. Rudi has remained close friends with their family, and the evening was filled with shared recollections and stories.

Rudi is now retired and recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary. They also met with a woman whose parents were comrades in the resistance with Sig’s parents, and she also shared her stories and recollections. They finished the trip to Holland by visiting the island of Texel on the northern coast of Holland, an island the size of the Vineyard.

While in Paris, they rented a small apartment on Isle St. Louis and met with friends who are also Vineyard summer folks, the Demesteeres and Petlins of Chilmark. At a bookstore by St. Germaine they ran into Jason and Ingjy Lew of Oak Bluffs and wound up having dinner with them later in the week. While in Paris, they got an e-mail from Rich Cohen of this town who thought there might be a chance they would run into his cousin who was spending the month in Paris with his wife. Low and behold it turned out they were renting an apartment directly across the street from them and you guessed it, instant new friends! Sig says they found Paris lovely, exciting, exotic, romantic and delicious and visited many great exhibits at all the wonderful art museums. The strikes and demonstrations against austerity measures taken by the government brought back memories of his student years, when Paris was always the first stop on his annual summer trip to Europe.

Tara Whiting, town clerk, wants to thank all of the poll workers and of course the voters for the splendid turnout at last Tuesday’s election.

Sarah Kuh, executive director, reports that the Vineyard Health Care Access Program will be celebrating their 11th anniversary today.

Handmade from the Heart for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard is the name of the sale: Linda is calling all bakers, jam makers, knitters and candlestick makers, so lift your hearts and hands and share your talents making items for this special benefit sale. It will take place on Dec. 11 at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. When you shop, you give twice, plus you can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and homemade baked goodies after shopping. Please help them by creating your handmade items. For more information, call 508-693-0189.

When you are in or near the woods these days remember that the archery season for deer is into its second week and shotgun season is about to start at the end of the month. John Varkonda, manager of the Manuel Correllus State Forest, would like to remind people who enter the forest to wear bright colored clothing to be on the safe side. Be extra careful when driving, as deer are apt to cross the road day or night.

All this month at the library the visiting artist is Domingo Pagan, who was born in Puerto Rico. In Boston he created his own art curricula in traditional and contemporary media at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, the New England School of Art and Design and the New England School of Photography. Come and meet the artist on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from any sale at this exhibit will benefit the library foundation.

You thought Colleen Morris would be quiet this week but she is busier than a beaver and reports that on Sunday the library’s annual community poetry reading will take place at 5 p.m. You can read your own or one of your favorites, then on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the library Dr, Enid Haller will host a discussion on Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and finally next Thursday, Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, MVTV, will be holding the last of a series of public forums at the library at 6 p.m. Sue Buske, a public policy consultant, will lead each workshop off with an overview of the cable license process work, and a general discussion will follow.

Lois Virtue reports that the annual Holiday Fair and Café will be held tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Trinity Parish House, Oak Bluffs across from the Tabernacle, with a luncheon from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information, call 508-693-4424.

Ginger Duarte reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Wakeman Center. The program this month is Holiday Creations, presented by Else Membreno, who will demonstrate ideas and the techniques of creating floral arrangements and holiday decorations for the home. A hospitality hour with refreshments will follow the program. For more information, call Ginger at 508-693-6570.

Patsy McCornack reports that Featherstone’s eighth annual Holiday Gift Show will be held from next Saturday till Dec. 19, from noon to 4 p.m. You can find a gift from $5 to $250, all to benefit Featherstone and local artists! Some of the participating artists from this town are: Lynn Christoffers (cats on the Vineyard note cards), Anne Howes (original watercolors), Marshall Segall (watercolor prints and cards) and Joyce Silberling (felted bags and scarves). Featherstone’s Knitting for Others group will have items for sale; proceeds go to the Food Pantry. For more information, contact Patsy at 508-696-0603.

On Nov. 14, 1947: “Arnold and Priscilla Fischer and their young daughter Eleanor returned home after visiting Arnold’s brother in law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Potter of Hopedale. During their absence Fred Fisher Jr. of Lambert’s Cove assisted with the care of the dairy cows at Island Guernsey Farm. Arnold also attended a soil conservation committee meeting in Worcester and an alumni banquet at Massachusetts University in Amherst.”

Happy birthday to: Wendy Hitchcock and Christine Fisher today; Bob Gothard, Lucy Mitchell, Rosemary Jackson and Cheryl Kram tomorrow; Geoff Currier, Louise Fragosa, Lee Aven, Tom Norton and James Koster on Sunday; George Hough, Robin Nagle, Craig Miner and Antonio Saccoccia on Monday; Paul Adler, Jane Finnerty and Wendy Forest on Tuesday; Chloe Maley, Peter Tucker and Chelsea McCarthy on Wednesday; Rusty Hitchings, Sammi Chaves, Jim Coyne, Jennifer Reekie and Terri Mello on Thursday.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. As we approach the holiday season, please be reminded of what the late Will Rogers said about making your money last longer: Fold it in half! Have a great week.