JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Well, after a miserable month of January we remember that just six years ago we had the coldest and snowiest February in 112 years. We have fared much better than the rest of the state and country, missing horrific snowstorms almost weekly. On Tuesday we were greeted to snow/sleet and rain; all after-school activities were canceled. The same weather pattern continued on Wednesday. Our friend Ed Konicki up in Webster reports that last week’s snowstorm there deposited more than 16 inches of new snow, adding to the four feet they have received since Christmas. Most of their side roads, he says, are a single lane with snowbanks nearly 12 feet high and he does not look forward to more of the same. You might remember they gave each other snowblowers for Christmas; what a useful gift it has been for the both of them. At least the days are getting longer. Now it is light till almost 5:30 p.m. each day.

Last Saturday the 25th annual Chili Contest took place at the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs. My wife was determined to attend, as we had not gone for one reason or another for 20 years. Well, when we arrived there were hundreds of people converging on the club from several buses full of folks with the same thing in mind. We did not know at the time that the 9:30 a.m. boat from Woods Hole had to return to port shortly after leaving as there were 45 more people on board than the allowable limit. Trisha Bergeron over at the P.A. club was helping to keep the line moving, and I persuaded her to open a line for senior citizens — otherwise we would never get in. She was very helpful and accommodating to us. Once inside it was overwhelming. It might be stretching it to think we knew 40 of the 2,000 attendees. A tent of gigantic size with many alcoves covered most of the parking lot and was connected to the club but it did not seem big enough to hold all of the guests. Cousin Kerry Alley and his wife, Pat, were most helpful getting us started on our adventure. What an amazing event! We were pleased to leave after two hours of mingling and sampling some mighty fine chili. Cousin Kerry called much later in the afternoon to inform Anna that she was the winner of the raffle of Celtics tickets!

Shanti Blum, of Music Street, recently returned from Toronto, Canada, where she spent a month visiting her son in law Richard Chisholm and daughter Michelle. She had a busy social schedule last year, with house guests last summer including her sister from England. She reports that her granddaughter, Sarah, arrived this week for a 10-day visit. She reports having a wonderful time in Toronto.

Despite the weather, a packed house attended Cynthia Riggs’s 23rd annual Groundhog Day party Wednesday afternoon. It was a great chance to socialize with your neighbors and friends, catch up with the latest political happenings around town and have an enjoyable evening with delightful food and adult beverages. The political season has begun. Dan Waters circulated his nomination papers for re-election to the library trustees and Richard Knabel for selectman.

Lois Crane, of the Vineyard Transit Authority, is pleased to report that their annual bus passes have been available since early January. You can obtain yours at the VTA office building in the Airport Business Park from 8 a.m. til 7 p.m. Seniors may call the Up-Island Council on Aging at the Howes House at 508-693-2896 or stop in during normal business hours. She also tells us that the Islandwide bus system carried nearly 900,000 passengers last year.

Lynn Ditchfield reports that Adult and Community Education (ACE MV) will be offering a free seminar for Black History Month, tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m. at the regional high school library. Historian Shari Geistfeld will lead a discussion on the current situation in Haiti and relationships with the U.S., with a slide show from a recent visit by the Island-based PeaceQuilts group, and a reading of Jamaican poet Louise Bennett’s work by Marie Reid.

Also, ACE MV is offering a special cooking class: on Wednesday, especially for Valentine’s Day; chef Christian Thornton, owner and chef of Atria Restaurant, will be guiding would-be lovers of all ages to cook a simple dinner for those you love. The meal will involve minimal amount of time in the kitchen but maximum positive impression.

Preregistration online is strongly encouraged to assure a place in the informative cooking workshops. Find out more at acemv.org or by calling 508-693-1033, extension 240.

Rufus Peebles reports that the Democratic town committee will be holding a caucus at the Howes House next Saturday at 10:30 a.m. to elect two delegates and two alternates to the state Democratic Convention in June. All registered Democrats are encouraged to attend and vote. If you have questions, please call Rufus at 508-693-5100.

Melissa Breese reports that on Tuesday she hung an exhibition at the West Tisbury Library of paints by an American Modernist, Vaclav Vytlacil (1892-1984). The show opens today with a reception and discussion this afternoon at 4 p.m. It will run through the month of February. All works in the exhibition originated directly from his Chilmark studio, adjacent to his home of 50 years, overlooking Squibnocket beach.

Marian Irving, of Old County Road, reports that next Sunday at 4 p.m. the Congregational Church will present renowned pianist Lisa Weiss in concert with cellist Jan Hyer, soloist Kevin Ryan, and Matt Pelikan, alto recorder. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall offering an opportunity to meet the performers and enjoy refreshments. Suggested donation is $15, with proceeds to benefit the preservation of the church located on State Road in the town center.

Colleen Morris, over at the library, reports that Chilmark resident Donald Nitchie and Oak Bluffs resident Barbara Peckham will read their poems in honor of Ms. Peckham’s new book, A Jar of Summer and Other Poems, on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

“On the night of Jan. 25, 1951 the home of George and Lillian Magnuson, of Edgartown Road, was bulging at its seams as 43 people attended a penny auction put on by the home and community service committee of the Grange for the benefit of the March of Dimes. George Magnuson and John Forbes, Master of the Grange, were the auctioneers assisted by Natalie Vincent and Alma Benson. Home cooked foods were auctioned off after the penny sale. Refreshments were served by the hostess assisted by Mary Seiberlich and Alma. The net proceeds of the sale were $63, the largest sum collected for the charity on any occasion in town. Lillian, town chairman of the March of Dimes, thanked everyone for coming out and supporting a worthy cause. She also reported that a total of $219.00 had been collected so far this month with another week to go. This is the largest amount of money that has ever been collected during the March of Dimes annual drive in town.”

Happy birthday to: Tom Dresser, Lillian Dimarto, Jose Chaves and Dylan Greene today; Emily Rhodegast, Sara Reekie, Clay Edwards and Michelle Jasny tomorrow; Maggie Bresnahan and Lisa Van Horn on Sunday; John Scanlon, Ken Campbell, Richard Olsen, Kathleen Tilton-Clancy and Jill Napier on Monday; Elaine Barnett, Elizabeth Carr, Kate Warner and Dianne McDonough on Tuesday; Paul Thurlow, Alley Estrella and Harold Lawry on Wednesday; Mabelle Medowski, Al DeVito, Kathleen Tackabury, Catherine Minkiewicz, Lynn Hoeft and Nicolas Peters on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Barbara Day, Lucy Hodgson Morse, Emmett Carroll and Matthew Anniese.

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.