JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Last weekend was delightful and many chores were done outside. The azaleas at the Foote tennis court have been in full bloom, a special treat that Bunny Fales enjoyed very much each year. Many people have returned after a long winter in warmer climates. Automobile traffic has picked up, and this weekend is the official opening of the summer season.
The long holiday weekend begins today and Monday is the Memorial Day holiday and there will be a parade and traditional observances down in Vineyard Haven. Town buildings, banks and the post office will be closed. This is considered the official opening of the summer season. If the ducks choose to stay in the Mill Pond it will surely make it feel like summer is just around the corner. The VTA bus schedule is now providing expanded coverage; on the weekend evenings the late bus to Aquinnah departs from the Grange hall at 11:38pm. The summer schedule goes into effect on June 26.
At the beginning of this holiday weekend let’s not forget what Memorial Day is really all about and take some time out from all our busy activities to remember those who have gone on before us. The cemetery superintendent and the Tea Lane mowing crew have been working for the past week, sometimes in inclement weather, mowing and trimming the cemeteries. Brian Athearn, veterans’ graves officer, has placed new American flags on the graves of all the veterans. A special effort is made for this particular holiday each year to keep up our cemeteries in first class condition so they can properly receive visitors who have come to pay their respects.
Alex Karman, of New York city, will be arriving this weekend and plans on hosting a number of his friends at his mother’s house on State Road. This is Alex’s annual retreat and Olympiad.
Marjory Potts, of Elias Way, reports that it sure is a small world especially in the office of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius’ staff in Washington D.C. Her son, Oliver, is director of the office of documents and regulations management and Sam Mitchell is deputy chief of staff and they both work on the same floor. It is ironic as they lived about 100 feet from each other when they were growing up. The story has it that Sam recognized the name Oliver Potts but assumed it had to be another person.
Carol Craven, of New York city, arrived yesterday to spend the summer at her Music street home. She will be opening her art gallery soon for the season.
Noah and Susan Block, of Music street, returned home yesterday from a business trip to San Francisco, Calif. Noah plans to plant a vegetable garden in the backyard in two weeks.
Bob and Barbara Levine, of Boca Raton, Fla. have returned to their Field View Lane home after spending the winter months in Florida.
Betsy and Craig Dripps, of Middle Road, proudly report that their son Perry graduated with honors from the University of New Hampshire last week. He is very pleased to graduate from college and looking forward to his summer job.
Diane Nolan, over at the post office, would like to thank all her friends and customers that supported her in the Red Sox run to home base last Sunday. The run was for the wounded veterans of New England. She reports having a great time and the event was very successful raising more than two million dollars.
Muriel Doane, of Edgartown Road reports that her brothers Bob and his wife, Rosemary, of Maine arrived for the summer recently as did her brother Richard and his wife, Martha, from a toasty Tucson, Ariz.
Martha and Carl Tack of Waldron’s Bottom Road and London, England arrived at their place on Monday. Martha reports that they plan to stay here for six months and they are looking forward to a relaxing time. She expects her children will arrive for several visits this summer.
Ina Andre, of Old County Road, is now an American citizen having passed the test and was sworn in recently. Congratulations!
Phyllis Meras held a dinner party Saturday evening and one of the guests was Charlotte Cook, of Aquinnah, the Potts, Bob and Marjory, and the Alleys. Marjory discovered that Charlotte’s sister, Louisa Moats Cook, was one of the teaching “stars” of their DVD series produced by their firm, Vineyard Video Productions on learning disabilities; another one in the series was made with another Elias Lane star, Judith Birsh, a master teacher trainer.
Simone DeSorcy reports that Rosemary Gambino, owner of Rosecuts Salon on Causeway Road in Vineyard Haven is spearheading the effort on the Vineyard to collect hair, fur, and wool trimmings and nylons to aid in the cleanup of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that has spewed million’s of gallons of crude oil since the April 20 explosion. Matter of Trust, a not-for-profit organization is orchestrating an international natural fiber recycling system. The nylons and clippings are used to make booms that protect beaches and coastal waters. Hair and fur are believed to be as effective, if not more so, than petroleum fiber-based boom materials. After hair soaks up the oil, it can be mixed nine to one with green waste, composted over two years, and fed to worms. The bacteria in the compost and worms break down the oil and the worms create a fantastic fertilizer.
All interested salon owners, barber shops, pet groomers, horse owners and other individuals are asked to save trimmings and nylons/pantyhose. Rosecuts will collect and pay to ship the material. Also, John Anderson, of Skiff’s Lane, owner of the Anderson Paint Company, is contributing to the shipping cost to Matter of Trust. This is a safe, nontoxic effective way to help in the Gulf Spill cleanup. Those interested should contact Rosecuts at 508-693-5362 or rosecutsmv@yahoo.com.
Karen Stanley reports that the Polly Hill Arboretum on State Road will be holding their annual plant sale tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Colleen Morris, over at the library reports that Alan Brigish will be at the library tomorrow (on his birthday, I am confident Colleen will bake him a cake) at 4 p.m. to talk about his new book, Breathing in the Buddha. On Wednesday, Mary Kate McGilvary, president of Quality Forensics and Investigation Services will hold a discussion on forensics with a question and answer period at 7 p.m. If that wasn’t enough, the Congregational Church’s handbell choir will offer a concert at 3 p.m. next Saturday.
Beth Kramer, library director, reports that the public is invited to a tree dedication celebrating the birthday of Paula Black, who died last October. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 26 at 5 p.m. at the library. Feel free to bring a favorite finger food. Call her at 508-693-3366 for details.
Judy McCarthy, over at the school, reports that eighth grade students and chaperones are leaving next week for England. This is our part of the student visitation program in place at the school for many years.
Barbara Silk reports that Women Empowered (WE) has moved to town. WE is now located at 505 State Road attached to the Up Island Paint and Tool store. If you’re picking up your mail, paint or a pie from Roger at Eileen Blake’s stand, stop in and say hello to them; they are in from 9 a.m. to noon most everyday.
Our condolences to the family of Stan Hart, who passed away recently. Stan was a good friend, a fact he confirmed in our last meeting at the store. He was an expert on trivia and we enjoyed trying to stump one another or an unsuspecting customer. His favorite that we repeated many times was “We all know the Chicago Cubs had a great infield in the early 1900’s. Tinkers to Evers to Chance were great but what was the name of the third baseman in that infield?”
On June 4, 1946 “Steve and Barbara Courtleigh and their son George, of New York city, arrived to spend the summer season in town. Their daughter Pat will join them in August. They have rented the winter home of Donald Campbell on Old County Road. The Campbells have moved up to their summer home on Basin Road in Menemsha. Steve, an actor, is also the voice of the Shadow on the radio and you can listen to the popular mystery program, sponsored by Blue Coal, Sunday nights on radio station WJZ. Steve, an avid fisherman, plans to make frequent trips to New York to fulfill his acting obligations. He was recently hired by Lucky Strike cigarettes and was photographed here surfcasting on South Beach. An advertisement will appear in Life, Colliers and the Saturday Evening Post magazines in a month. They also plan on filming him surfcasting and using it in a television commercial in the near future as a test to see if the emerging new form of entertainment will reach more of their customers.” For the record the first paid advertisement on television was in 1941 and the price was $10 and the product was Bulova watches. You remember the punch line of the commercial; America runs on Bulova watch time.
Happy birthday to: Cheryl Stark, Martha Tohlen and Sherl Dagostino today; Alan Cottle, Dionis Montrowl, Alan Brigish, Fan Ogilvie, Robyn Bettencourt, and Lisa Lynch tomorrow; Colin Whyte, Peter Hoffman and Greg Marcella on Sunday; Linda Gandel and Amy Fournier on Monday; Eric Magnuson and Chaya Thanhauser on Tuesday; Linda Alley and Tracy Scanlan on Wednesday; Emily Pires, Bill Blakesley, Wayne Sylvia and Casey Decker on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Bernadette Smith.
Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.
Comments
Comment policy »