JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Well, it was a wonderful weekend, weatherwise. Many people did some serious yard work and even brought out of hiding the grill and summer lawn furniture. The warm weather brought out a burst of flowers, daffodils, tulips, forsythia. The old Wight house was a sea of blue flowers in the front yard and tree buds are about to blossom everywhere. The Sunday special for gasoline is gone until winter, Holy Week drew to a close with Easter last Sunday and all the church services were full. NSTAR has been busy replacing power poles from Parsonage Pond to the ford in North Tisbury. Despite the monsoon-like rains that slowed the project down, they plan to finish up this week. There was a controlled burn in the field near the road at the Polly Hill Arboretum on Monday, and the temperature felt like summer midweek.
Tonight at 7 p.m. and tomorrow at 2 p.m. the school presents Once on This Island Jr., a Caribbean folktale told with music and dance. It is based on the novel, My Love My Love, by Rosa Guy. There is a reception after each performance with the proceeds going to Haiti. The play is directed by Bee Bee Horowitz, with music direction by Melanie Chaunce and choreography by Judy McCarthy.
Lynne Whiting, of State Road, reports that this year’s lambing season began on March 18 and this year’s “delivery team support” included Will, Tara, Prudy, Davis and Everett. Bea had just left for Bequia with her friend Patrick Ruel, although since returning she has happily been part of the annual spring ritual. The sheep barn is thriving as healthy new ones are arriving daily. She says it looks like a good crop this year.
Allen and Lynne Whiting returned recently from Bequia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines where they enjoyed the warmth of sea and sand while combining vacation with a little work. Allen painted and had a successful small showing of Bequia paintings. They can be viewed on his Web site, allenwhiting.com.
Next week will be busy with the annual town meeting and election. The Town Meeting Warrant contains 49 articles. Items expected to generate considerable discussion are the budget, cost-of-living increase for employees and a number of community preservation and zoning articles. It is reported that it could last two nights.
Muriel Bye, election warden, reports that all will be ready at the polls in the Public Safety Building on Thursday. The election will be held from noon to eight p.m. She expects a moderate turnout with no contests. There is a vacancy on the park commission that will be filled by write-ins.
Greg and Heidi Pachico, of Skiff’s Lane, hosted her parents, Manny and Sharon Estrella, of Indian Hill, her brother Manuel IV and his wife, Jessica, and their children, Alley and Morgan, and her grandmother, Louise Estrella of Vineyard Haven. She reports that they all had a wonderful time.
Ron and Debra Kokernack, and her stepfather, Ed Konicki, of Webster, visited the Island for Easter and were our guests for dinner. Ed stayed with us, visited friends and worked on several projects in my yard along with Ron and Deb. They had a nice visit, and we enjoyed having them with us. They returned home on Monday.
Cherrilla Brown and her daughter Coco, of Buttonwood Farm Road, returned home last weekend after an eight-day vacation in San Miguel Alende, Mexico. They visited friends and made a pilgrimage to the nearby hot springs. Cherrilla returned to work at Alley’s on Monday after a two-month leave of absence. She has been busy working filling orders of her special By the Sea salt.
Sal Laterra, of Providence, R.I., returned home on Monday after a holiday visit with Phyllis Meras. He turned her gardens over, applied mulch and lime, planted peas, mowed the lawn and pruned her shrubs. They also entertained members of her family at an Easter brunch.
Kendall Gifford Miller, of Athens, Ohio, was here recently opening up the old Gifford Store building for the season and plowing his garden in preparation of the planting season.
Cathlin Baker, minister of the Congregational Church, reports that the Wednesday night suppers have ended until fall. Over 600 people were served this winter. They averaged 50 people per week, and one night had as many as 85 people. The church offered extravagant meals, thanks to the hospitality committee, Ann Nelson and Marjorie Pierce. They are deeply grateful to Steve Bernier of Cronig’s Market for supplying generous amounts of meat and poultry each week, and for all of the delicious “sides” which arrived to complement the buffet table. They are gaining a reputation of serving the best community supper by far on the Island!
In other church news, they will begin serving only fair trade coffee at the morning coffee hour on Sunday morning. They will also be selling other fair trade products: organic coffee beans, tea, cocoa and chocolate bars. They hope to offset the increased cost of the coffee hour coffee with the sales of these other products. A memorial service will be held for Harriet Almstead on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Paul Karasik reports that congratulations are in order from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School to John Stanwood. By making a one dollar contribution to the school he took a chance and won 365 cups of coffee at Alleys General Store! Thanks to all who participated in raising over $150 for the school, and thanks to Rhonda Backus and Cherrilla Brown.
Jeremy Berlin, of Elias Way, reports that on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the school cafeteria they will present Friday Night Coffeehouse. Performers are encouraged to sign up at the school office or contact Jeremy at 508-696-3007 for more information.
Sheila Bracy, executive director of Women Empowered reports that they will be holding a dinner at the Mediterranean on Sunday. All are welcome to dine that evening; proceeds benefit this group that helps Islanders manage financial affairs.
Ginger Duarte reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday at 1 p.m. over at the Wakeman Center. The topic for this month’s program is Integrating Perennials into Your Landscape, presented by Peggy Schwier. A hospitality hour with refreshments will follow the program. For information call the garden club hotline 508-693-5334.
Jen Rand, over at the town hall, reports that she is seeking a new member of the shellfish committee, and the selectmen have extended the deadline for the police station study committee membership; if you are interested, please call her at 508-696-0102.
“On April 20, 1942 a large wild fire started accidentally from a pile of burning brush in the field to the east of Mabel Johnson’s house. It was fanned by a brisk wind and easily jumped the Edgartown Road and spread rapidly over seven acres of dry grass and into the woods. Prompt arrival of fire trucks from Vineyard Haven, the State Forest, along with a crew of men from Oak Bluffs and Edgartown who happened to be working on the New Lane road project, and Antone Alley, who was busy planting his garden just up the street, responded immediately and was able to get the fire under control in short order. The homes that were in the path of the fire were: Laura Lee’s, Margaret Howland and Flora Jordan’s. The barn on the Cleaveland estate, now owned by Sidney Riggs, caught fire but was saved from serious damage.”
Happy birthday to: Marilyn Fish, Robin Brown and Julie Hitchings today; John Alaimo, Will Monast, Heidi Pachico, Jennifer Arena and Caroline Mayhew tomorrow; Sally Sherwood, Linsey Lee, Kristin Buck, Hallie Britt, Andrew Cathey, Linda Swanson and Jim Leroux on Sunday; Antone Rezendes Sr., Carmen Wilson, John Hoff, Frank Sinatra and Meghan Leonard on Monday; Prudy Whiting, Sarah Neubert, Anthony Higgins and Deborah Eggers on Tuesday; Gina Leonardi, Kerry Elkin, Kim Baker, Emily Coulter and Marion Ellis on Wednesday; Anne Bresnick, Jonathan Revere, Don Luce, Debbie Magnuson, Mike Post and James Brodeur 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. Have a great week.
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