JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

The weekend weather was delightful, and there was a lot of backyard barbecuing happening. Business owners report a lot of people around; anyone in the sometimes terrible traffic would agree it seems busier than the past 10 years. The beaches have been packed each day with the hot weather. Outdoor activities are at fever pitch, sales of bagged ice have skyrocketed. Finally we had a heavy rain and lots of thunder and lightning on Monday.

There were a number of U.S. senators on the Island this weekend on a summer retreat. An event for them was held in Lambert’s Cove on Saturday.

Chris and Gordon Turner, of Vineyard Meadow Farms Road, received a surprise visit from their daughter Keren, her husband, Mark Peterson, and their son, Bjorn. Also visiting is Jeff Spillman, from Seattle, Wash. Jeff was Mark’s best man at his wedding.

Leslie Gray and Hunter Morman, of Panhandle Road, recently returned from an extended trip to Germany and Switzerland. They visited Hunter’s daughter Anna, and new grandchild, Alicia Noelie. They also traveled to Hamburg where World Cup soccer matches were displayed on big screen televisions everywhere. Leslie’s son Jim kept her garden watered and weeded in their absence. Leslie has just harvested a bumper crop of exotic garlic plants which she no doubt will enter in the fair.

Geoff McCullough and son Henry, of Hingham, arrived last Friday to spend the weekend with his parents. They stayed in Kansas, the same place his sister Mellissa and her husband, Jon MacDonald, stayed the weekend before. Geoff and his son Henry showed up at my house on Saturday to pay off a debt. He had promised to mow my lawn if I did him a huge favor and kept him out of the dog house earlier this year. We decided, however, that the grass was too burned to mow, and this would happen next month. They headed back to their home in Hingham yesterday.

Ann Fisher, of San Francisco, Calif., arrives tomorrow to spend a week with Judith Churchill of Lambert’s Cove.

Phyllis Meras, of Music street, has had several guests this week; Bridgett Cooke of New York city arrived last week and returned home on Tuesday, and Richard and Mimi Elfenbein, of New Jersey, arrived Tuesday afternoon.

Marian Irving, reports that tomorrow, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., over at the church they will hold their third Attic and Barn Sale featuring a large variety of items including furniture, glassware, tools, garden items, antiques and many other treasures. All the proceeds will benefit the preservation and programs of the church. Lemonade and bottled water will be available as well as their delicious strawberry jam. Any question, call Mike Achille at 508-693-0165.

The new residents of the old library, Island Theatre Workshop, open a new production this weekend down at Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven. It’s the Tony award-winning comedy and musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Taffy McCarthy and Linda Berg. It opened last night and continues through August 8.

Cary and Abby Rosenthal, of State Road, had a full house last weekend. In addition to a visit from their daughters, Brin and Blake, the kids also had Ben Safdi, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Bridget O’Donoghue, of Simpsonville, S.C., Tom Weber, of Fort Washington, Pa., Jessica Shang, of Silver Springs, Md., Pip Coen, of the United Kingdom and Eran Elder, from Tel Aviv, Israel. The Rosenthals held a cocktail party on their patio on Sunday to introduce them to friends and neighbors. The guests reported having a wonderful time at the beach.

Elizabeth Churchill, daughter of Bob and Barbara Day, and her children Freddy, Bobby and Lucy, from Los Angeles, Calif. are visiting her parents until the end of August. John Churchill will come for a week in early August and again later in the month.

Jack Mayhew is featured in the July issue of the Martha’s Vineyard Magazine in an article titled The Athearn - Mayhew Feud, which explores some of the history of Thomas Mayhew Sr., his first ancestor here on the Island. Also, Johnny Hoy, musician, shellfisherman and mason is featured on the July cover with his children, Ruby and Gus.

Tonight from 7 to 8 p.m., the story of Capt. Levi Jackson and the rescue of 14 people from the Mertie B. Crowley, which wrecked off Wasque on January 23, 1910, will be told by his great-grandson Herb Ward. The talk will take place at the parish house of the Federated Church in Edgartown. A suggested donation of $10 will go to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund, to help Island families in need.

Bill Mill reports that tomorrow night’s paddle into the night, a guided kayak trip Long Point Wildlife Refuge, will take place at 7 p.m.

Jenifer Strachan, of Waldron’s Bottom Road, is having an exhibition of her magnificent mosaics at the Louisa Gould Gallery in Vineyard Haven till August 3. The opening reception is tomorrow night from 5 to 7 p.m.

Colleen Morris reports that today the library invites all ages to come and meet Peter Rabbit at a special story time at 10:30 a.m. Tomorrow morning arts and crafts kids can make seashore snow globes with Colleen. You can then dance with her as there will be jazz music at 4 p.m. courtesy of the JC Trio. On Monday evening at 5:30 the library will host a public forum concerning the history and future plans of the building. Lassie Come Home will screen Monday at 7 p.m. free popcorn is available.

This week’s history note is from July 30, 1926. “Fred Vincent, of New Lane, suffered fractures and other internal injuries as the result of an accident he had with the car of Miss Letha Martin, of Vineyard Haven, while he was behind the wheel Monday afternoon. Mr. Vincent was riding home and Miss Martin was traveling in the opposite direction and collided where the old dirt road intersects with the state highway. He was taken to the Marine Hospital by Frank Look who happened on the scene shortly after the accident. His injuries were treated but he will be hospitalized for a while. Fred has had a run of hard luck lately; his house burned to the ground last spring. While moving a building to the foundation of his old house and fitting it for a dwelling he strained his back and was obliged to stop his work and seek medical treatment. It was while returning home from the doctor and the drug store that he met with the accident that further crippled him. It was thought that because he was suffering pain he did not notice the approaching car. Someone remarked that if it wasn’t for bad luck he would have no luck at all.”

Happy birthday to: Jean Francis and Mike Hull today; Bob Ogden, Darah Schwartz, Spencer Thurlow, Cathy Folan and Gregory Small tomorrow; Fran Bradley, Cynthia Mitchell, Jeff Smith and Charles Morgan on Sunday; Doug Reid, Mariko Kawaguchi, Max Decker and Mary Folin on Monday; Stacy Haden, Greg Orcutt, Beth Serusa and Allen Whiting on Tuesday; Julie Humphreys, Bob Day, Dan Rossi and Amanda Lobb on Wednesday; Pat Lynch, Perry Garfinkel, Mark Mazer, Jesse Oliver and Diane Hartman on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Minor Knight and Margaret Rose Hoff. Also belated anniversary wishes to Kern and Cheryl Grimes, of Waldron’s Bottom Road.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week. Have a great week.