JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
It is Friday the 13th so sprinkle a little salt over your left shoulder for good luck before you read today’s column. Last weekend won’t soon be forgotten; it felt more like March than May. Mother’s Day was beautiful and sunny and many a dad took her out to brunch and when they got back home worked on chores she wanted done around the house to please her. The annual Mayfair Festival will be held tomorrow from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Island Children’s School on Halcyon Way. Up-Island Auto is, as of last week, a state-certified inspection station serving all of up-Island.
Many businesses are getting ready or have already opened for the season. The Glass Works, Middletown Nursery, Banana’s clothing store and State Road restaurant are now open for the season. Roger Blake’s outdoor pie gazebo is open if the weather is decent, until next weekend, when someone will be out there rain or shine. Allen Healy has stationed a flock of his sheep to graze in several areas of B.L. Bird’s field on Music street. It’s become a great photo opportunity for passing motorists.
Kathy Chaves of Great Plains Road reports that she had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Her wish came true: She spent it with her three children. Her oldest son, Kendall, is back on Island after finishing his junior year at Babson College. Her daughter, Sammi, had a fabulous time with the Minnesingers over April school vacation visiting Prague and Paris and sang last weekend at the Performing Arts Center with the group. Kathy’s younger son, Mitchell, is focused on the school baseball team and the Tigers team in the major league; he plays for both. Kathy said it’s good to be the mom! She hopes everyone had a beautiful weekend.
Allan and Fran Kaufman, of Teaneck, N.J., were in residence last weekend opening up their house for the summer. They will return early next month for the summer. Fran reports that they will be hosting a family reunion for the first time in three years. Family members will be arriving from Australia and Washington, D.C.
Richard Rieche and his wife, Diana, of Wilton, Conn., were here to celebrate Easter and open their home for the summer.
Warren and Marilyn Hollinshead, of Pond View Farm Road, returned home last week from a two-week trip to England. The first week was spent in Cambridge staying at one of the colleges, where they listened to Bach performed by the King’s College Chapel Choir. They were in London in time for the wedding, but somehow their invitation to the Abbey for the royal wedding got lost in the mail, so they watched it on BBC like millions of others.
Last week Noah and Susan Block, of Music street, hosted her friend John Willis, from England and New York city. John gave her the first job she had in the advertising business. Noah was the tour guide and showed John around the entire Island. They enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the Grill on Main before he returned to the city.
Lynne and Bea Whiting recently returned from a trip to Utah, where they cohosted a bridal shower for Josie Franciose. Josie will wed Jon McGuinn in Midway, Utah, on July 16 with Bea as their maid of honor. Bea then continued onto California for a gathering of Josie’s college friends and other bridesmaids. While in Salt Lake City they visited with Lynne’s mother, Mary Erickson, and other extended family. Despite upwards of four inches of snow that fell and covered the gorgeous spring flowers, they had a wonderful time!
Nancy Dole proudly reports that her daughter, Meg Abramowitz, and Seth Abramowitz (Jamaica Plain and North Tisbury) have a new baby girl, Aviva Bella Abramowitz, born April 11 at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. Aviva weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and joins her sister, Ayelet. Congratulations!
Lynne Ditchfield, reports that tomorrow the Adult and Community Education (ACE MV) will offer from 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Introduction to Children’s Literature, a three-credit hybrid course (five face-to-face instruction classes on Island and remainder online) taught by Cape Cod Community College professor John French at the regional high school. Information and registration are available at acemv.org or call 508-693-1033, extension 240, or 774-310-1131. On Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. there will be a Food Safety Sanitation minicourse with Alice Robinson.
Linsey Lee, oral history curator over at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, reports that tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the library, you are invited to celebrate the museum’s new publication, Those Who Serve — Martha’s Vineyard and WWII. Veterans Mev Good, Ted Morgan, Nelson Smith, Tom Hale and others will be on hand, talking about the war. The book features oral histories, portraits and archival photos from 20 Vineyarders talking about wartime experiences, including our town’s Nelson Bryant and John Mayhew. Books will be available at the event. Also, on Thursday, May 26, join the friends of the museum for an evening of fine wine, artisanal cuisine and conversation with the chef and co-owner of Atria Restaurant and Diane McManus Jensen, author of The Art of Collecting.
MJ Bruder Munafo reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group celebrates its 25th anniversary at its annual gala fundraiser, An Evening Under the Stars, at the Granary Gallery on Old County Road on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Cochairs are Jane Carroll and Anne Marie Donahue, working with gallery owners Chris and Sheila Morse, are hosting this festive event. The event is sponsored by many local organizations. Beverages, a wide selection of hors d’oeuvre and desserts by Leslie Hewsen will be served throughout the evening. Music will be provided by Mike Benjamin and dress is “casual elegance.” For further information, call Jane at 508-696-9849 or e-mail her at Jcarrollmv@aol.com.
Colleen Morris, over at the library, reports that the Monday night reading series continues with Shirley Mayhew, Susanna Sturgis, Elisa Lash and Paul Levine there Monday night at 7 p.m. She will help you make hanging fish crafts tomorrow from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. Jazz will be heard at the library next Friday, and the Monday night movie is Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis.
Ginger Duarte reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living holds its fifth in a series of cultural luncheons next Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Grill on main in Edgartown. The program is the Whaling Wives of Martha’s Vineyard, the speaker is mystery write, Cynthia Riggs, whose great-grandmother, Mary Carline Cleaveland, sailed with her husband, Captain James Cleaveland, on a five-year whaling voyage in the Pacific. Mary gave birth to two daughters during the long trip. For tickets, call 508-939-9440.
Happy birthday to: Rufus Peebles, Martha Hubbell, Elaine Shabazian and Janice Paul today; Kitty Murphy, Susan Hopkins, Gretchen Anderson, Brendon O’Neill and Jason Napior tomorrow; Katie Mayhew, Earl Dean, Nick Huff, Julie Meling, Megan Dryer and Everett Whiting on Sunday; Muriel Bye, Herbert Moody, Bob Kimberly, Nina McMann and James Taylor on Monday; Donna Goldfein, Jeffrey McNeil, Mary Sage Napolitan and Eric Bates on Tuesday; Ronnie Silva, Allyson Reed, Moira Perzanowski and Elizabeth Johnson on Wednesday; Paul and Richard Garcia, Norman Hall, Andrea Sroka and Richard Kugler on Thursday. A Happy anniversary to Deb and Ron Kokernak tomorrow.
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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