JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Well, the weather was mild and the sun came out Saturday afternoon and it turned out to be a decent weekend. Lawn mowers could be heard buzzing around town cutting lawns. The cherry trees in Harriet Bernstein’s front lawn were ablaze with color and so was the one on Music street. Thanks to Albert Fischer who took a fine photo of the trees that line the road into the cemetery in all their glory. It was reported that Eleanor Stanwood was busy feeding oranges to the orioles that had descended upon her place. Folks were pleased to see Alan Healy station a flock of his sheep to graze in B. L. Bird’s field on Music street. It has become a great photo opportunity for passing motorists.

Mother’s Day turned out to be beautiful and sunny. Sam and I joined Nicole and her husband Arsen, and grandson Robbie and his mother and grandmother at Colt State Park in Bristol, R.I., for a lovely picnic in the park. We went up the night before and stayed at her sister Nina’s. While driving from New Bedford to Taunton, we came upon a monsoon complete with sharp lightning that got our attention as rivers of water were everywhere.

Many businesses are getting ready or have already opened for the season. The Glass Works, Middletown Nursery and Bananas clothing store are now open. Fiddlehead farm stand will be open soon and Roger Blake’s outdoor pie gazebo is open if the weather is decent, until next weekend when he will be out there rain or shine. Flatbread Company opened last night with a gala opening party that featured music by Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish and Goodnight Louise.

Andy and Susan Boass of Hopkinton and Middle Road are at their house. Susan, one of the famous Glimmerglass girls, reports that she has collected a quarter from each of the 50 states and Andy is tending his beehives. He sells his honey from a stand at the end of his road all summer.

The park and recreation committee reports that beach stickers will be available starting on June 15, every day from 9 a.m. to noon plus Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the park and recreation shed at the school. The Lambert’s Cove beach guards will commence their jobs on June 22. For more information, call the park department at the town hall.

Jennifer Rand, town administrator, reports that there will be a special town meeting to deal with seven articles before summer begins, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 in the school gym. Some of the topics are money for courthouse window replacement to be taken from community preservation funds, integrated pest management funding, and a marijuana ban for one year. The largest item on the warrant is funding the Sepiessa Point housing project.

Beau Jack Monast of Waldron’s Bottom Road graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst last Friday. He was honored for his work in video. His parents Will and Leslei attended the ceremony.

The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society invites you to participate in national chamber music month. They will spotlight their spring concert at 4 p.m. on May 26 at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown as part of the national chamber music celebration.

Phyllis Meras held multiple parties on her birthday last Friday night. She held a party for Sal Laterra and Shirley Mayhew, who were born on the same day, and her neighbor Ann Burt brought over a cake so all three were honored. It was a swell birthday for all. The guests enjoyed themselves and the dinner that Phyllis cooked.

Jay and Celine Segel of Pond Road recently returned from an ocean cruise, and Anna Carringer and Sarah Monast recently returned from a vacation in Turkey.

Adam Block of Reston, Va., has returned home after a brief trip to the Vineyard and a visit with old friends. He plans to return in June.

Alex Karmen of Brooklyn, N.Y., arrived yesterday to open his mother’s home for the season. He will turn over the garden and get it ready to be planted. His parents are expected to arrive early next month for the summer.

Amy Redmondi reports that author Judith Hannan will share her personal story and her new book Motherhood Exaggerated at the Speakeasy Series on Wednesday. It begins at 5:30 p.m. at the State Road Restaurant, The series is a collaboration with the Library Foundation and includes evenings with noted authors to benefit the library’s capital campaign. Ms. Hannan’s memoir recounts the ordeal of her young daughter’s battle with cancer and how her medical journey tested and strengthened a mother’s resilience.

Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Abel’s Hill Cemetery there will be a memorial service for Mike Pease who passed away in January. There will be a reception immediately following at his home.

Wednesday morning my brother Jim passed away after a long illness. He was a lifelong resident of the town, former selectman and postmaster. Jim dabbled in many businesses, including a bowling alley, horse farm and real estate, and sold new and used cars for many years. He also was part owner of the General Store for 20 years.

On May 26, 1964 the Grange held an evening of entertainment, broken only by a short business meeting, as they turned the Agricultural Hall into a café. The program was arranged by Mr. and Mrs. William McClure and Muriel Fisher. Edward Silvia served as master of ceremonies for the floor show, which included numbers by Mrs. McClure on the chord organ, Dale McClure on the accordion and Frank Brown on the piano. Donald and Peter Fisher and Dale McClure presented a skit for the group. Miss Carol McGee performed a Mexican-style modern dance, and George Hill showed his skill on the drums and also as a comedian with his imitation of Frankie Fontaine. Miss Cathy Convery and William Luce performed several folk songs and the evening’s entertainment included a sing-along and ended with dancing.

Happy birthday to Donna Goldfein, Katherine McCourt, Mary Napolitan and Paula Church today; Ronald Silva, Thomas Stackpole, Frank Thornton and Mora Perzanowski tomorrow; Paul and Richard Garcia, Ashley McCarthy, Norman Hall and Karen Harris on Sunday; Carol Carrick, Jamie Mastromonaco, Ned Robinson-Lynch and Dianne Moyer on Monday; Candace Widmer, John Dutton, Wayne Clay and Veronica Conover on Tuesday; Sally Hamilton, Judy Bryant and Donald Beaton on Wednesday, and Eric Whitman, Deborah Cini, Jessica Townes and Nathan Belain on Thursday.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. It is nice to be back home. Have a great week.