What a holiday season we have had on the North Fork! The season began with the Landowner Association sponsoring the Thanksgiving feast. In addition to providing free use of Sondreson Hall the NFLA purchased the three turkeys and the ham with a $125 budget. Any extra funds can be used for decorations or any miscellaneous costs. It wasn’t always that way.

First Thanksgiving that I remember at Sondreson Hall was sponsored by Loyd and Ruth Sondreson. If my memory is correct, Ruth served a huge baked salmon fresh from Alaska. Sondreson did this for several years and then Ross and Katie Wilson took over and hosted several Thanksgivings at the Hall. Over time, it became an NFLA function and now has been hosted by Steve Berg for nearly 20 years.

The history of the Christmas party was covered a few weeks ago and thanks to Caldwells and Heaphys for hosting and reviving the great social event. I hope the Landowners Association steps up next year so that Christmas is a part of the community social calendar.

Also revived this year was the New Year’s Eve party at Sondreson Hall. Sponsored by Morgan and Patti Hart, it too, was a great success and, like the Christmas party, more than 40 people attended. The Christmas tree and other decorations from the Christmas party were still up and were added to by the Harts and helpers.

Original plans were for a midnight supper, but guests arriving at 8 p.m. found Morgan slicing hams to go with homemade biscuits and a vast array of snacks which were added to with every new family group that arrived. As a result, everyone grazed throughout the evening and enjoyed each other’s company. A great time was had by all! Thanks Morgan and Patty Hart and Tom Holycross, who plowed the parking lot. Thanks, too, to all of the folks who helped with all of these big social events by providing help with food, setting up, heating the Hall and all of the little things that make a party a success.

The New Year’s Eve party is a relatively new event on the North Fork and has always been a private party. Originated by Gerry and Richard Wackrow as an “adults party” where alcoholic beverages were allowed. The Wackrow parties were hugely successful, complete with a large fireworks display at midnight. The Wackrows did this for several years and it was continued by others for two or three years, and then died out for a lack of sponsors. The Harts brought it back! Again, thanks to them and everyone who helped.