JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

The weekend weather was swell after some drenching rain. After church many people had an opportunity to go to the beach for the first or second time and Lambert’s Cove was pleasantly crowded. The baseball fields and tennis court were very busy. Because of strong seas many SSA trips were diverted to Vineyard Haven from Oak Bluffs over the weekend. The Father’s Day weather forecast is for a reasonably good day, but Dad will relax at least for one day no matter the weather. Also he will not have to clean up after dinner even if it is a backyard cookout. Today is Flag Day and the summer season officially begins next Friday. Yes, traffic jams in Vineyard Haven have already begun.

Father’s Day is on Sunday. It’s origin dates back to near the beginning of the last century. President Calvin Coolidge made it a national day and President Lyndon Johnson signed it into law with a presidential proclamation. A happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there.

Sig VanRaan and his wife, Susan Dickler, arrived at their Music street home for the summer after attending the wedding of his eldest daughter, Zoe in Santa Fe, N.M. They spent the winter and early spring traveling on a fascinating trip through Southeast Asia visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam and Laos. Sig’s daughter Sofia is spending the summer here after five months in Thailand teaching at a private school in Bangkok. Also his son Jackson is home from college in California.

Diana Reische reports that while her husband Dick decamped in luxury at Bill and Jo Connolly’s across from South Beach, she hosted four long-time friends for three days of food, hikes and female friendship. Linda Beech and Jan Hazard of New York city joined Carol Brown and Nancy Warner of Pelham, New York for the mini reunion.

At various dinners, the group was joined by Betsy McIsaac, Joan Thomas, Suellen Knight and Joan Connolly.

John and Ellen Cronin, of Drexel Hills, Pa. have arrived for the summer at their Plum Bush Road retreat.

Last Thursday Myles Devaney and Rachel Croan of Dartmouth were married at Polly Hill Arboretum. Congratulations!

Anestis Diakapolous and his wife Lee of East Greenwich, R.I. returned home last Monday after spending the weekend at Phyllis Meras’s house.

Scott Bell and Casie Kolodziej were married recently. An unusual thing about how this union came about was that he proposed to her in Fenway Park last month and it was shown to the fans and the television audience on the center field message board. So if you happened to be watching the Red Sox game that night you saw it but never would have guessed it would be a Vineyard wedding. Congratulations!

Ava and Naomi Plakins hosted us at a wonderful dinner at their Middle Road home on Monday. They have been busy opening their house for the season.

Marian Kniesner of Paris, France was Phyllis Meras’s house guest this weekend. They both attended the recent Wellesley College reunion.

Tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Firehouse in North Tisbury the Salvation Army is hosting a summer fair. They will have face painting, balloon animals, free ice cream and other giveaways. Also featured will be a wide array of disaster preparedness information from their emergency disaster services.

Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports that she has absentee ballots on hand in her office for the special Senate election or you may vote in person in her office d,uring normal business hours up until the day before. The election will be held on Tuesday, June 25. Poll hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Public Safety Building in North Tisbury.

The park and recreation committee reports that Lambert’s Cove Beach stickers will be available starting tomorrow and every weekday thereafter from 9 a.m. to noon and weekends from 4 to 7 p.m. at the shed near the tennis courts at the school on Old County Road. Stickers will be required as the beach opens with lifeguards next Saturday. Stickers are $50 and a walk-on pass is $10. Swim lessons will begin in early July.

Paul Karasik reports that The Spindrift Marionettes will present Peace, Love & Puppets tomorrow from noon until 3 p.m. at the Tisbury Waterworks in Vineyard Haven. For information contact Marsha Winsryg at 508-560-2620. Marian Irving reports that if it is mid-June, it is strawberry time in West Tisbury! Volunteers at The First Congrega tional Church are getting ready to slice hundreds of pounds of fresh berries next Saturday morning. This will be the 25th annual strawberry festival. It will be held from noon to 4 p.m. I can remember Joe and Sally Kraetzer, the members of the church that were instrumental in starting the event. It now draws residents, seasonal visitors some from as far away as Europe and families with children of all ages to the center of town every year. Strawberry choices abound with or without shortcake, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream or a smoothie. There will be “take-home” containers for sale as well! The festive banner, floating balloons, and gaily set tables on the lawn beckon passersby to the friendly village setting. Everyone is welcome to sit and be refreshed in the shade of the trees. This annual fund-raising event benefits the historic church which also serves as a community home for several non-profit Island organizations. Anna Carringer, over at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, reports that tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. the museum will be celebrating the summer season with a opening party. Celebrate the season with a party on the lawn and the opening of a new exhibit, Ladies of the Sea: Tull, Treat, and Jernegan. Also new at the opening party will be the collection items featured in the museum’s rotating spotlight gallery. The museum recently received a donation of 14 booklets of sheet music. Published by composer and bandleader Will Hardy, the music recalls the days of the Tivoli ballroom in Oak Bluffs. Included in the donation were 11 original music manuscripts and photographs of Hardy and the ballroom. In addition to these exhibits, the 18th Century Cooke House will open for the season. New this summer, the house parlor will include larger items that coincide with the Museum’s exhibition. Lecturer Bob Frishman presents, “The Clock in the Painting” on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7pm. Also a hearty welcome to Lian Aurora Perez, their new Marketing and Events Intern, She is interested in gaining a better understanding of the role marketing and events play in the success of a museum.

Old friend Carol Carrick died suddenly. Her books were cherished by readers of all ages for more than 40 years, including the series inspired by her two sons Christopher and Paul. Carol enjoyed ballroom dancing, trips to Florida with her longtime friend, Jack Burton. Our condolences to her family.

Happy birthday to: Elaine Pace, Tim Sweet, Max Conley and Bea Amaral today; Joyce Currier, Cynthia Riggs- Attebery, Jackson Van Rann, and Fred Barron tomorrow; Mike Diaz, Ruth Campbell and Anne Fischer on Sunday; two special women from Webster, Donna Annese and Deborah Kokernak, Leslie Baker, Don Rogers, Erin Rathmell and Benjamin Golfein on Monday; Maggie Barron, Sam Bryant, Peter Eldridge and Randi Baird on Tuesday; Debra Levesque, Marjory Potts and Sarah Montrowl on Wednesday; and Danyon Russell, Francine Huckins, Keelan Weiss and Donna Eldridge on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Becky Baxter and belated anniversary greetings to Ed Levine and Vicki Bijur.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.