JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Alan Healy moved his herd of sheep into the land bank field across from Polly Hill late last month, and they have responded by neatly mowing the field. You may have noticed the deer also have been moving around lately, primarily due to the hunting season, and you are apt to see them in the strangest places or crossing the road. The price of gasoline is now $2.74 per gallon and there have been cars lined up to take advantage of the bargain. Gasoline has dropped 25 cents since Halloween.

A new building is going up at the site of the former Haynes restaurant in North Tisbury; Slice of Life owners Mary and Jackson Kenworth will open their new restaurant next year.

Ron Gamba and crew are dismantling the old shed behind the store built by Sanderson Mayhew. It also served as the home of a Delco light plant that powered the store before there was electricity from Cape and Vineyard. The Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, owner of the building, plans to convert the space into a fruit stand for use next summer.

My daughter Nicole Alley and her husband Arsen Hambardzumian of East Taunton spent the weekend with us. Arsen had several septic inspections to make in Vineyard Haven.

Marian Irving reports that the First Congregational Church will hold their annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. As always, the fair will sell holiday greens, homemade crafts and baked goods. For more information call the church office at 508-693-2842.

Sig Van Raan of Music street reports that his sister Heleena came up from New York to spend a few days over the weekend with some close friends. He will head off to the Pacific Northwest with son Jackson to look at some colleges and explore the region — specifically the Seattle and Portland area. His stepdaughter Willie reports that her boyfriend, Mike, who just spent six months working on the Obama campaign as a field organizer in Michigan and Indiana, has just been invited to work on the transition team. Congratulations to him. Sig will soon begin a project to repair and restore the failed spillway at Glimmerglass Pond. Scotty Young has signed on to head that project and will keep everyone posted on progress.

His wife Susan relates a heart-rending story. Her sister’s husband, Larry, recently had a kidney transplant in Boston. The donor was his wife of 43 years, Susan’s sister Abby. Both are still recovering from the surgery and Larry’s prognosis looks excellent. His comment after the Presidential election is short and expresses the feelings in many households in town: “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!”

Heather Lochridge married Timothy Sykes last Saturday afternoon in Chilmark; the reception was held at the Grange Hall. It was a wonderful time.

Colleen over at the library reports that activities are in full swing as we approach the holiday season. This afternoon the JC Trio will perform live jazz music at 4 p.m.; the crafts group tomorrow will be making Thanksgiving napkin rings. There will be a community poetry reading on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Deborah Mayhew reports that tonight and tomorrow at 7 p.m. the regional high school fall drama will present The Miracle Worker. Her daughter Katie Ann has a lead role playing Helen Keller’s mother. Tickets are sold only at the door.

Charlie Parton will discuss his new book: The Fork Once Taken, a memoir of his time as a director of the Peace Corps in North Borneo at the library at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. Refreshments will be served. Copies of the book will be available for sale at that time (it is also sold at Edgartown Books or at Amazon.com).

Happy Birthday to: Geoff Currier, Louise Fragosa, Tom Norton and James Koster today; George Hough, Robin Nagle, Craig Miner and Erika Downing tomorrow; Paul Adler, Jane Finnerty and Wendy Forest on Sunday; Chole Maley, Peter Tucker and Chelsea McCarthy on Monday; Rusty Hitchings, Sammi Chaves, Jennifer Reekie and Terri Mello on Tuesday; John Athearn, Kevin Segel and Sandra Ingela Welbrock on Wednesday; Carlo D’Antonio, Glen Gaskill, Craig Dripps, Sam Hopkins and Sam Hart on Thursday. Belated anniversary greetings to Arsen and Nicole.

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