JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Today is the start of the long holiday weekend; Labor Day is on Monday and the end of the high summer season. All municipal buildings and the post offices will be closed. It was excellent, weather-wise, all summer, but all good things must come to an end and school starts on Tuesday. Many other school systems in the commonwealth opened last week. The VTA buses begin their fall schedule on Monday and the SSA schedule changes on Wednesday. There were several end-of-season parties last weekend and more than likely a few more are planned over the holiday weekend. We had two 90 degree days earlier this week and found time to prepare for Hurricane Earl, though we hope it will miss us and the weekend will be splendid.

Activity around the school will increase dramatically today as teachers return to work preparing for the opening of school Tuesday morning. The high school will open on Wednesday for the freshmen and all of the other students on the following day. Ruda Stone reports that 43 new freshman students will be attending from our town; the exact number of students will not be available until the Oct. 1 school census. Sue Merrill over at the elementary school estimates, as of yesterday, that 270 students will be attending classes this year. School buses are now on the road, so be prepared to stop when you see the red flashing lights at the top of the buses — they indicate the driver is about to stop to pickup or discharge students. Most all the bus stops have no sidewalks so students may be standing near the edge of the road waiting to be picked up.

Holly and Ed Eger, of Stonewood Way, departed last week for their new home in Portola Valley, Calif. Ed is the general manager and president of the North America Emerging Markets of Pay Pal. Their son William had an internship with the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. He is entering his junior year at Harvard. Daughter Julia is entering her freshman year at Harvard, and daughter Katherine will be a junior in high school. Her mom reports she had a great service trip to Morocco this summer.

Phyllis Meras and Sal Laterra entertained about 100 guests at her annual backyard pre-Labor Day cocktail party last Sunday. Sal had everything looking shipshape for the party, and Phyllis was the genial hostess.

Judy Randall, of Lovettsville, Va., was the houseguest of Phyllis Meras last week. Judy enjoyed dining out, visiting with friends and helping to celebrate her brother Jon’s and his wife Genevieve’s 22nd wedding anniversary. Chantal Charpentier, a family friend, came over to vacation with them. They all live in Paris, France and returned home after a wonderful summer on Tuesday.

Bob Ganz, of North Road, reports that last weekend he had a dish of fried okra direct from his garden and it was delicious. He was hoping to get in touch with Malcolm and Judy Hall, of Oklahoma City, as he is sure they have a variety of dishes with okra. Bob has already ordered okra plants for next year to get ahead of Malcolm.

Jared and Sue Ruby, of Tiasquam Lane, returned home recently after a summer vacation in the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada. Sue reports that she enjoyed whale watching, 50-foot tides and caught a salmon for dinner.

Sig Van Raan, of Music street, reports that his daughter Sofia has left to go back to the University of New Hampshire for her senior year. Jackson has left for Southern California to attend the University of Redlands. Susan’s daughter Willie was here for a brief visit before she starts her nursing program at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Sig and his wife Susan are enjoying some quiet and peaceful days on Music street now that the kids have gone and look forward to a couple of weeks at their Menemsha cottage after the last tenants depart on Labor Day.

Dianthe Eisendrath of Middle Road reports that last week Jane and David Baldwin, relatives of her husband Bob, visited their nieces and nephew, Megan, Carey and Ben Baldwin, who have been spending the summer in Noah and Katie Kahn’s house on Scotchman’s Lane. Megan and Carey became famous last summer for their fashion invention, the “bubble dress.” They held an impromptu fashion show on a busy Saturday at this time last year; many cars stopped to admire the stunning effect of strapless mini-dresses with a bouffant skirt. This year they have held successful trunk shows and have contracts to return to Edgartown stores over the holidays. A family party was held Sunday night at the Eisendrath barn for the Baldwins and for the Ed and Holly Eger family, who are also “family” to them. You see Holly Hodder Eger was a young babysitter for them several years ago; they introduced and encouraged her loyalty to our town and the Vineyard. Son Will has become a favorite at the Chilmark Community summer program, and Julia worked this summer for the Vineyard Gazette.

Frequent visitors with Bob and Dianthe this summer have been their sons Noah and Matthew, and Matthew’s wife, Patience. Their wedding took place last fall in their meadow with much joy and celebration among both families. All will return for the Labor Day weekend; Matthew is hoping that the surfing will again be spectacular as it has been this past weekend. It’s been a beautiful summer for all, and will end with a return to the Boston area on Labor Day.

Constance Koch, of Edgartown Road, will be leaving for her home in Washington, D.C. soon. She reports having a wonderful summer and all of her children visited her at various times during the month. Daughters Anne Koch and her husband, Chuck Taylor; Sarah Koch, who is an independent producer, her husband, Sloan Seymour, and their children, Claire, Grace and Caroline from Brooklyn Heights, and her sons, Peter, who is an attorney in Chicago, Ill., and John, from Washington, D.C.

Teresa Thompson, of Santa Monica, Calif., who had rented an apartment in Lambert’s Cove for the past three weeks, headed home on Wednesday. Teresa, who lived here for a few years, enjoyed the beaches and meeting old friends.

Nancy Billings reports that there will be an open house at the new Fire Museum at the Oak Bluffs on Wing Road near the fire station tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m. It has a lot of historic material gathered from a variety of sources.

Tony Nevin reports that the Community Preservation Committee invites residents to submit proposals for community housing, open space or historic resources. Over $900,000 is available to support eligible projects. Applications for eligibility are due on Sept. 17. More information and forms are available by contacting the CPC by e-mail: cpa@westtisbury-ma.gov

Andrea Rogers, manager of the 15th Vineyard Artisans Festival over Labor Day weekend, reports that it begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. over at the Agricultural Hall. Only Island artisans will take part in the show and display their handmade items; all types of art work will be on display, furniture, jewelry, photography and much more. There will also be music, catered food and free admission. New this year are Island artists displaying their own work. She reports that the $2 parking fee will go toward the Vineyard Artisans Scholarship Fund. There will be a special invitation-only sneak preview of the Festival tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The 65th Annual Bass Derby begins a week from Sunday and runs until Oct. 16 this year. Francis Bernard of Oak Bluffs was the bass winner in 1980 with a 49 pound, 5 ounce striper. For more information, call the chamber of commerce at 508-693-0085. Joyce Bowker, director of the Council on Aging, will be setting up a schedule this week when free fish will be available to the seniors. So call the staff next week at 508-693-2896 for further information.

On Sept. 2, 2008, “Will Monast, contractor in charge of the Frank Adams restoration project, reports that the old place is taking on a new life while the exterior remains virtually unchanged. Over 20 tons of old wood, bricks, stones and insulation has been removed. He continues to find small things: a high button shoe, galoshes and newspapers. The Feb. 23, 1943 edition of the Boston Herald with the address label intact: Frank Adams Post Office Box 35. Mr. Adams, the old notes show, listened to the radio every night while he did a fair amount of carving and one of his favorite programs, Fibber McGee and Molly was broadcast Tuesday night.”

Happy birthday to Bonnie Eldridge, Mary Sobel and Richard Burt today; John Hough and Dyan Redick tomorrow; Ward Just, Gloria Sylva, Tucker Smith, Katherine Cordray and Perry Dripps on Sunday; Laura Marshall, Melissa Hackney and Michael Jackson on Monday; Barbara Hull, Nancy Cramer and Chris Turner on Tuesday; Harry Athearn, Dan Larkosh, Doug Bardwell and Dan Larkosh on Wednesday; Geoff White and Spencer Hughes on Thursday. Happy anniversary to Don and Tina Fisher on Wednesday. Belated anniversary greetings to Don Evon and Denise Doreen Mount, who celebrated their 17th last month, and Claire Harrington and Ed Mossy.

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.