Oysterponds News: Warm Hands Warm Hearts clothing drive

East Marioneer Heather Walker is doing her annual Warm Hands Warm Hearts holiday clothing drive and collecting scarves, gloves and warm hats. Adult items will be distributed to John’s Place and children’s items to local children in need. Drop donations off at Oysterponds School; the Walker residence, 2530 Gillette Drive, East Marion; or in Greenport at the Hampton Jitney or McMann Price offices. It’s hard to believe that this effort is in its fifth year; it was launched as an act of thanksgiving by Heather after she survived her catastrophic accident and the multi surgeries and long recovery that followed. WTG, Heather.

The East Marion Community Association invites you to join them this Saturday for their Holiday Benefit from 4 to 7 p.m. at the historic East Marion life-saving station, now a private residence at 5795 Rocky Point Road. Tickets are $35 in advance; $45 at the door. Call 477-2819 to reserve or email [email protected]. Tickets are limited so act fast. Proceeds will benefit EMCA.

The OHS Beach Plum Shop will be open this weekend from noon to 4 p.m. and on the following two weekends. Stop in and pick up that special, locally created gift.

The OHS winter benefit is this Saturday at the Webb House. Please call OHS and check if you can still sign up. Tickets are $100. While on the phone, sign up for the annual House Tour Dec. 13.

Under the direction of Oysterponds art teacher Catherine Brigham, students are creating ornaments and decorating one of the “famous” trees that will be auctioned off at the winter benefit. Many thanks to the Oysterponds students.

The North Fork Chorale winter concert will be held at Orient Congregational Church this Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. Find a member to purchase a ticket from, or some may still be left at the door.

I had one of my fun ‘small worlds’ last week. I volunteered for the soup kitchen at St. Martin dePorres Church in Jensen Beach. Since I was new, the where-are-you-froms were abundant. Pat, who runs the kitchen, was from Brentwood, and I thought that was a small world until she said, “Peg is a snowbird from somewhere on the island.” When I asked Peg Bendicksen where she hailed from, I was astounded when she said Greenport and that she attends St. Agnes. As you know, I thought I knew everyone in both those places. When we started chatting, there was not one person in a list of dozens we mentioned whom we didn’t both know. And when I went to send her an email, she was already in my saved emails, so we must have belonged to the same group at some time. I can’t make this stuff up.

It’s been a bittersweet month for East Marion native Alice Jester. On Nov. 1, she lost her beloved brother, Dick (Greenport High School Class of ’54), who died at Westchester Medical Center. Then, on Nov. 24, she lost her former sister-in-law and dear friend Jeanne Manna Feiman. However, on the flip and joyous side, on Nov. 28, Alice and her husband, Tee, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. So Oysterponds extends sympathy to Alice; Dick’s wife, Mary Ellis; his children, Richard Jr., Janet and Robert; and his nephew, Mattituck’s Steven Jester. We also wish Alice and Tee a happy 50th and wishes for health and happiness in the years ahead.

Back here on Dec. 18. The deadline will be the 15th. Until then, try to enjoy the season.

Contact Oysterponds columnist Carol Gillooly at [email protected] or 323-3899.