JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Last Thursday afternoon the temperature was 60 degrees; it was very pleasant and warm. However by Sunday morning it was downright cold. That was in Taunton where we had gone to spend a long Thanksgiving weekend. All the stores were decorated and playing Christmas music — Bing Crosby and Brenda Lee seemed to be the most popular. Well before Thanksgiving many homes also had trees in the windows and lawn decorations in place.

Our friend Jane Konicki up in Webster reports that she shopped on Black Friday but only for stocking stuffers as all her gifts are wrapped and Ed put up her tree after the turkey dinner. This month has slipped away in a blink of the eye. We are still almost ten days away from winter. Remember shotgun season for deer started Monday and will last for two weeks, so wear bright-colored clothing if you walk near the woods.

Charlie Carroll and Kristy Knoff have moved from the Frank Adams place to Jamacia where they will be managing a resort year-round. Kristy held a large yard sale last Friday and disposed of many items. She says they are sad to leave but could not pass up the opportunity of a lifetime. They wish all of their friends a happy holiday season.

On Tuesday Aquatic Control Technology of Sutton began work clearing Parsonage Pond of a sea of weeds that had all but strangled the pond. A paddle wheel barge type of machine that floats has a large rake in the front, scooping out weeds and depositing them on the shore. It looks like a Rube Goldberg invention but it is efficient and practical. The weeds will be hauled to a compost pile on the farm. Mill Pond also is plagued by weeds and it seems like this machine would solve the problem without costly studies.

Perry Garfinkle returned home on Monday from a trip to Monaco for five days to cover the Leading Hotels of the World annual convention of 430 delegates of five-star hotels. He will write all the details of the trip for HuffingtonPost.com. Monaco is so small that when he took a hike up many steps to get an overview of the harbor he ended up walking into France. Perry got to shake the hand of Prince Albert II. The next stop for him is Italy for a week in January to promote the publication of his boo Buddha or Bust in Italian by a division of Rizzoli, as Alla ricerca del Buddha.

Warren and Marilyn Hollinshead spent Thanksgiving week visiting his sister, Betty Long, of Roxboro, N.C. They also visited historical sites and museums in Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Richmond.

Ben and Paddy Moore entertained a large gathering of family for Thanksgiving dinner. Ben reports that they had a wonderful time. Everett Whiting reports that Aunt Prudy hosted Thanksgiving for 15 family members at Quansoo and it was awesome.

Richard and Ina Andre and son Nicolas celebrated Thanksgiving at their home. His brother Keith and wife Patty and their children Michael and Kaitlyn of Long Island, N.Y., came down to be with them for the holiday weekend.

Linda Baughman of Philadelphia and a frequent visitor to Music street reports that she enjoyed her Thanksgiving meal of some of India’s finest vegetarian fare. Pushkar is a very holy Hindu city and no meat, beer or wine may be consumed within the city. She is having a wonderful time and wishes all of her Vineyard friends a happy holiday season.

Shirley Mayhew reports that Thanksgiving for their family this year was different: “Caroline is at UCLA law school and could not get home. Lucy is living and working in Boston but did manage to get home. Deborah and Katie Ann went to Maine with her friend, Todd Follansbee, to have Thanksgiving with his family. Betsey and Sarah cooked rock cornish game hens for the rest of us. They were so good, but so small, that we had no leftovers for Friday.”

Manuel Estrella and his wife Sharon enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with their son Manny, his wife Jessica and their children Morgan and Alley, daughter Heidi and her husband Greg Pachico and their children Amanda and Andrea at their son’s home on State Road. Manny’s mother Louise came up from Vineyard Haven to be with them to make it a family Thanksgiving.

Dan and Nancy Cabot served 19 guests for Thanksgiving dinner. Davies, Ann, Jackson, Alexandra and Chilton came from Concord, N.H.; Ray, Tyler and Austin Cabot came from Hightstown,N.J. Their son Ben, his wife Nicole and daughter Violet joined them along with Nicole’s parents, Gaston and Linda Vadasz from Hungary. Also attending was Nancy’s cousin Ann Howes. Dan reports that a wonderful time was had by all.

Simi Horwitz of New York city and a Vineyard visitor for many years and a features writer for Backstage.com, keeps this news desk informed about the stage hand strike in the Big Apple and the effect it is having with tourists visiting the city. She wishes all of her friends here a happy holiday season.

Marian Irving reports that the First Congregational Church will be humming with Holiday Faire activity beginning early Mondaymorning. The making ofthe Christmas wreaths, centerpieces, kissing balls, and swags will keep a talented group of members busy for five days. Advancegreens orders can be placed by calling Barbara Howell at 508-693-4664. When the Faire opens on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 9 a.m., the food table will featurefrozen cheese balls, quiche and apple crisp, along with many delicious treats to take home. Lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mark your calendar today and don’t miss this special event of the holiday season. All proceeds benefit the historic church’s programs and maintenance.

Rez Williams and his wife Lucy Mitchell returned home last Tuesday after spending two weeks on a late fall holiday in New York.

Shanti Blum went to New York city to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with friends. Alba and Ken Eber’s daughters, Marissa and Ericka, took part in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. She reports that they had a wonderful time; she took her grandchildren to several museums. She returned home Saturday night.

Martha Tack returned to London, England, yesterday. She reports that they had a wonderful family Thanksgiving and she did a lot of shopping to take advantage of the weak American dollar.

Andy Boass was in town to check on his beehives and work around the house last Friday. He reports that his wife Susie is back home in Hopkinton making Christmas wreaths that they will sell on their farm.

Colleen Morris, over at the library, reports on December activities. Saturday crafts will be making shining star ornaments and on Monday at 7 p.m. they will show the 1946 classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.

Town executive secretary Jennifer Rand reports that the town holiday party will be held at the Agricultural Hall on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. If you have questions please call her at 508-696-0102.

Linda Alley reports that the original Vineyard Holiday Gift Shop opened for the 14th season yesterday in the Pyewackets building on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven. It will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily until Dec. 24.

Muriel Bye will be having an art showopening at the Chilmark library tomorrow. Her latest works of art will be on display until Dec. 21.

Happy birthday to: Tara Whiting and John Becker today; Christina Diaz and Gregory Barron tomorrow; Todd Goodell, Martha Schmidt, Ed Konicki and Tracey Smith on Sunday; Amanda and Toni Cohen, Richard Doane, Bobbie Lima, Laurel Wilkerson, and Elizabeth McCormick on Tuesday; Julia Barron, Danielle Garcia and Andrew Miller on Wednesday; Bonnie Steere and Bonnie Jackson on Thursday. Belated wishes to Glen Gaskill, Peter Ochs and Arsen Hambardzumian. This correspondent celebrates his birthday on Monday, but don’t ask him his age.

Well that is all of the news for this week. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.