JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

The weekend weather was mixed. On Saturday, an Islandwide bicycle race was held although the weather was raw and filled with showers. Sunday found us under a blue sky with milder temperatures. The orioles have returned to town. The late Emma Whiting had records to prove that they always return by May 12 and bird watchers will keep a sharp eye out for them on Monday. The Vineyard Transit Authority buses began operating on their seasonal schedule last Saturday mo rning with additional weekend trips.

The price of a postage stamp increases by one cent on Monday morning, so don’t drop any mail in the postal box on Saturday afternoon without the correct postage or it will be returned on Monday (unless you’re using one of the Forever stamps.)

Thanks to Steve Vages, a computer genius, you are able to read this week’s column.

Dan and Dorothy Whiting of Panhandle Road have begun their annual Jack Russell show season. Dorothy reports that their first show in New Jersey was successful with two first-place ribbons in confirmation and super earth. Bling, a tri-colored female, and Tiger, co-owned with Kate Davy were the winners. Dorothy shows dogs in the confirmation classes while her husband, Dan, handles hunting classes. Dan reports they own three national champion Jack Russell terriers. It is a great way to explore the East Coast of America with your dogs and have a blast.

Natalie Grewal, of Creston, British Columbia, will be returning to town next week and will be here until October. She will again be employed at Garcia’s Deli (also known as Back Alley’s.) She enjoys East Coast living and meeting customers in the bakery.

Kimberly Rovin, of Birmingham, Ala., was home last weekend to visit her parents at their Cobb’s Hill home. Kim has just graduated from the University of Alabama with a master’s degree in public health. Congratulations, Kim.

Malcolm Hall, of Oklahoma City, Okla., arrived last Friday night to spend a long weekend opening up his Pond Road home for the season. His wife Judy was unable to make the trip as she is busy redecorating their Oklahoma City house. Malcolm met my son Sam on the boat to Vineyard Haven. They got along real well and Sam helped him with some of the chores that needed to be done around the place on Saturday.

Simon Goldberg has just finished his junior year at James Madison University in Harrisburg, Va. He plans to spend the summer with his mother, Patti, in North Tisbury.

Bob and Barbara Day of Willow Tree Hollow Road, returned home on Monday after spending two weeks in New Orleans, La. They relieved their daughter, Catha Carlson of New York and Chilmark, as guardian for their granddaughter, Jessica, 14, who has a role in a Universal Studios movie being filmed in that city.

Cherrilla Brown and her daughter Coco, of Button Wood Farm Road, traveled to Boston last Tuesday for a very special reason. They went to the Mexican consulate to sign citizenship documents and in two hours her daughter became a Mexican citizen. She now holds dual citizenship in both countries. Her new name is Cherrilla Allende Garcia Brown. Congratulations.

Jack Reed of Washington, D.C., arrived in town on Monday and is busy opening up his home on Edgartown Road for the summer.

Mary Grasing of Edgartown Road returned home recently from a month-long trip to the Galapagos Islands with a friend which she reports as nothing less than fantastic. The weather was superb and so was the pretty beach on Tortuga Bay that was heavenly.  They stayed primarily in Puerto Ayora and island-hopped to enjoy the many attractions. They went to Bartelome Island and did some super snorkeling, Santa Cruz and investigated the lava tunnels, sailed to Foreana and Isabella islands and played with the penguins, sea lions and a variety of beautifu l fish and birds and went back to Santa Cruz for more snorkeling. She admits it was hard to leave such a beautiful place but it was nice to get back to the Vineyard.

Heidi Pachico reports that she still has lemonades and peanut butter sandwich Girl Scout cookies for sale. If you would like some, get in touch with her at 508-696-6975. All sales benefit Brownie Troop 290.

Nicole Galland, daughter of Mike and Karen Colaneri, will be at the Bunch of Grapes bookstore in Vineyard Haven tonight at 7:30 p.m., discussing and signing copies of her latest novel, Crossed, the story of the Fourth Crusade and the sack of Constantinople in 1204.

Colleen, over at the library, reports that the new hours for the library are Monday from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. They will be closed on Sunday until the fall.

Pat Adler reports that the Evening Under the Stars gala will be held nextThursday at theMediterranean restaurant in VineyardHaven. This worthy event raises funds to assist people on the Vineyard who are facingcancer. You may call her at 508-696-5901 for details.

On April 22, 1986, 139 out of the 1,001 registered voters attended a 19-article special town meeting held in the school gym that lasted four hours. Most of the warrant contained zoning changes proposed by the planning board. After considerable debate, it was voted to increase the lot size to three acres in the recharge area of Tisbury Great Pond. It included the 200-acre Magid property on which an 86-lot subdivision is planned although it may be held to the current zoning as developers already have filed a preliminary subdivision application. Bob Post of the board of health said that big money is coming to the Island and buying land and isn’t really sensitive to the needs of the town. Jim Young reported that year, so far, has seen phenomenal growth. A total of 275 new lots were created and he was worried about water quality standards. All of the articles except one were approved.

Happy birthday to Shanti Blum and Rebecca Rattner today; Phyllis Meras, Chris Decker and John Osmers tomorrow; Michael McCarthy, Shane Fisher and Todd Murtha on Sunday; Beverly Mazza, Liza Williamson and Daniel Benedetto on Monday; Rufus Peebles, Martha Hubbell, Nicole Galland, Edmund Cottle 3rd, and Janice Paul on Tuesday; Donald Fisher, Susan Hopkins, Kitty Murphy and Jason Napior on Wednesday; and Earl Dean, Julie Meling and Everett Whiting on Thursday. A very happy 25th wedding anniversary to David and Eleanor Stanwood on Monday.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news, please call or e-mail me. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there and have a great week.