Edgartown

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I’ve never been as excited to see a bunch of wire spools as I was this weekend, and this is an electrician’s daughter speaking. But the wire spools dotting the sidewalks of Main Street this Saturday have a very specific job, and that is to alight our town with holiday cheer. I can’t wait to see the town lit up, with Main Street decorated exactly the same as it was when I was a wee one.

Jessica Burnham reports that this past Saturday her mother, Mary Gazaille, celebrated her 70th birthday. Mary and granddaughter Martha Scheffer marked this milestone with a trail ride to Great Pond. Notes Jessica, “It was a beautiful, if a little chilly day. She’s hoping she’ll still be riding and able to celebrate the same way at 80!” Best wishes for the future.

This year’s performances of the “Nutcracker Gala” will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday and Sunday , December 4 and 5, at 2 pm. The “Nutcracker Gala” features the Atlantic Coast Ballet (formerly Cape Cod Ballet) with a cast of 14 professional dancers under the Artistic Direction of Ms. Tanya Vincent. Also performing are the children from the Martha’s Vineyard School of Ballet under the Artistic Direction of Ms. Beth Vages, bringing a total cast of 75 dancers to the stage. Edgartown’s own Grace Hall will play the part of Clara on Sunday. Other Edgartown performers include Evelyn Brewer, Mackenzie Condon, Carlene Gatting, Laura Hall, Eleanor Hyland, Genevieve Hyland, Kaya Maloney, Hannah Murphy, Julia Murray, Sarah Pertile, Annabelle Shevelin, Shealyn Smyth, Tatum Thomas, and Ava Thors, For more info please call Beth Vages at 508-939-0074.

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society will screen the film “Un conte de Noël” (A Christmas Tale), Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 pm, which tells the story of a family forced together for Christmas when the matriarch finds herself in need of a transplant.

The Island Community Chorus presents its annual holiday concert at the Old Whaling Church, Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 and Sunday, Dec. 5, at 3 pm.

December 4 is Appraisal Day at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. Expert appraisers Sara C. Wishart and Stuart Whitehurst from Skinner, Inc. will evaluate your prized objects from 9 am to 3 pm at the Museum Library. Items may be consigned for sale by Skinner with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling 508-627-4441.

Mark your calendars for the special Town Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 14 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at the Old Whaling Church. For further information and to view the warrant, visit the town’s web site, edgartown-ma.us.

A special happy birthday to Bob Avakian, who turned 60 on December 1. Hope you had a good one. Birthday wishes also go out to Thayer Whipple, December 4; Joel DeRoche, December 7; and Polly Toomey and Jim Joyce, December 8. Here’s to another spin around the sun.

I’ve already started my drives around the Island to look at the Christmas lights. (The Gatchells on Old County Road in Oak Bluffs are already lit and remain the best.) To all those who love to hang Christmas lights, please let me know who and where you are. When I hop in the car and fire up the Christmas tunes to wander around checking out the twinklers, I don’t want to miss any grand displays, nor do my readers. If you see anything good out there, drop me a line. Help me get a little guide started here. We’ll all be in the holiday spirit before you know it.