KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

Well, I saw about six snowflakes the other day so it must be winter. Though the weather has been cold lately — even downright freezing — we have been lucky to have so much warm weather this year, and they say it is coming back.

Happy Birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Ashley DaSilva, Elias Gundersen, and James Murray, who all celebrated their day Jan. 16; Tyler Grasing and Jonathan Medeiros, Jan. 17; Neveaha Jackson, Jan. 19, and to Dylan Mahoney, who celebrates his day today, Jan. 20.

Christmas has come again to Robinson Road. Zack Waller, world traveler, has returned home after spending the holidays in Russia, then Boston for a few hours to switch suitcases, then Punta Cana, Dominican Republic to do a study with one of his professors and fellow students. So Christmas was delayed at the Waller home until today, where the Christmas tree is up and all the outside lights are shining bright. Zack said he was home for another 48 hours before heading back to Cornell for the rest of his studies this semester. He said he would probably return in May for the summer. Here is to a Merry Christmas to the Waller family in the middle of January.

Speaking of Christmas, Jan and Floyd Norton love to decorate their little spruce tree at the top of the hill on the West Tisbury Road, right next to Sweetened Water Farm. However, this year someone once again stole the lights off the tree. Though it has not happened for a couple of years, I guess this year the temptation was just too much. Jan and Floyd are very discouraged and said they may stop putting the lights on the tree only to have them stolen. It is too bad, because it is so cute to see during the holiday weeks.

The Anchors sent in its schedule for the week. On Monday at 9:30 a.m. there will be free day-old bread from Stop & Shop; from 4 to 6 p.m. will be Mindful Knitting. Tuesdays will feature a strength training class at 8:30 a.m., chair Pilates and knitting for hospice programs at 10 a.m. and a Tuesday Café lunch at noon. The cost for the TuesdayCafé is $2. There will be a Mah Jong class at 12:30 p.m. Thursdays feature yoga at 8:30 a.m., strength training at 10:30 a.m., rug hooking at 1 p.m. and a men’s stretching class at 3:30 p.m. There will be a Friday Café at noon on Friday; the cost is $5. Another Mah Jong class will take place at 12:30 p.m.

The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Leadership Initiative and the Farm Institute will host a farmers’ roundtable on Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Farm Institute. New England farmers typically have more free time in the winter months, and this discussion is scheduled to take advantage of that lull in the workload. “If we’re not farming, it’s probably because we’re talking about farming,” said Jon Previant, executive director of the Farm Institute. “This is a great opportunity to get together and learn about what’s going on across the water that impacts us.”

It is with a heavy heart to report the passing of our friend and neighbor Jim Kresel. He and his wife, Mary Ellen, were our next-door neighbors for 16 years. The Kresels moved to The Villages in Florida in October. Jim became ill in mid-November and was in rehab until his passing. He was a great man of courage as he fought his kidney disease. He was a well-respected teacher and a friend to many. If you would like to send your condolences to Mary Ellen, her address is 598 Osada avenue, The Villages, FL 32162. His memorial service will be in the spring in Walpole.

Gail Craig has set up a Facebook page to help the Hargy family. Molly (Hathaway) and Chris have been traveling back and forth to Boston for medical care and are sometimes there overnight. The page has a calendar where you can sign up to make meals or help with the transportation of their children to school. If you do not use Facebook you can e-mail Gail at gcraigmv@yahoo.com and she can send you an invitation to join the page. It is an easy setup and will be very much appreciated.

I talked to a few people who went to the Pats game last Sunday. They said it was a cold day, but once you got into the stadium the cold was the last thing on their minds. The anticipation and the hype of the game kept them very warm. So here we go with the Pats and the Ravens — good Sunday football. For those of you traveling to the game, travel safe and Go Pats!

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.