JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
In addition to the very good weather, the rhododendron bushes — not azaleas as previously reported in error — at the Foote tennis court were in full bloom and absolutely magnificent last weekend. The first weekend of the unofficial summer season brought thousands of visitors, as was evident by the long lines at the grocery stores in town and increased automobile traffic — up about 15 per cent according to an SSA official. Andrea Rogers reports that the two-day Artisans’ Festival at the Grange Hall was a huge success. Fiddlehead Farm opened last Thursday in North Tisbury so now all of the businesses are open for the season in that section of town. JetBlue’s inaugural flight from JFK arrived a bit late due to fog but carried 99 passengers for the holiday weekend.
Ed and Jane Konicki, of Webster, came down for the long weekend and stayed with us. This was Ed’s first Vineyard trip since his heart operation in March. They visited with their many friends and had a wonderful time.
Dr. Bob Levine and his wife, Barbara, have returned to their South Pond Road home after spending the winter in their Sarasota, Fla., house. Bob reports that it is great to get back to the Vineyard.
Diana Lozano, of Lee, will be arriving on the Vineyard for the summer next week. Last year she worked a variety of jobs and made many friends. She hopes to pick up where she left off last year.
Kevin Wojcik and Lynn Dolan of Glastonbury, Conn., opened up their home in Vineyard Meadow Farms for the season this past weekend. This weekend Kevin is hosting his annual reunion of old college friends from UConn. In addition to the usual suspects, this year will see the first time attendance of Stan Dlugolenski, Kevin’s college roommate and spiritual guide. The usual activities are planned for the weekend; fine dining, martini drinking, disc golf, badminton, cigar smoking and much more. Also the group expects stimulating conversation and uplifting tales by the campfire led by Guru Stan, lovingly known by the group as The Chairman.
Last Thursday Ann Nelson held her birthday party on her lot in the cemetery. Ann had many well-wishers drop by, Maid Marian Irving, Margaret Gallagher, Cathy Minkiewicz, Salina Roman and Rev. Cathin Baker to name a few. Ann remarked that it was a wonderful time, the weather was picture-perfect and she was glad to enjoy it above ground. Congratulations to a swell lady.
The Plakins sisters, Ava and Naomi, enjoyed their visit to their Middle Road home and opening it up for the season. At first the weather was cold and miserable but before they departed it was delightful and they can’t wait to return. Naomi’s daughter will be visiting this weekend.
Peter and Beatrice Nessen, of the greater Cambridge area, were at their home here for the long holiday weekend. On Monday they dined out with their friends Bob and Barbara Day, of Willow Tree Hollow.
Patricia Carlet reports that the annual Memorial Day picnic at the Tisbury Water Works was a rousing success. She gave me a personal tour of the old historic waterworks building; they have done an amazing amount of restoration work. Take a look sometime this summer. I assisted Ralph Packer in raising the American flag to full staff before the picnic began.
Phyllis Meras returned home from a two-week business trip to Spain yesterday. During part of her absence Sandra Polleys of Hemlock Farm, Pa., stayed at her place and tended the livestock. She departed for her home on Wednesday after a month-long stay.
Jill Carlton and her husband, Pete Karman, of New Haven, Conn., arrive today to spend two months at her State Road home.
Martha Tack of Waldron’s Bottom Road and Williamsburg, Va., arrived at her place last Saturday. Martha’s husband, Carl, is working in Dubai. She is looking forward to a relaxing time and expects her children for summer visits.
Lee Revere, of Seven Gates, reports that the 54th annual library book sale will be held from July 29 until August 1 at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. This marks the first time it has been held outside of town. The local school will be undergoing serious repair work and will be off-limits. Small donations of books will be accepted at the library until early July but they are no longer accepting video tapes for the upcoming book sale. Audio books, CDs and DVDs are welcomed.
Tom Dresser, of Oak Bluffs, reports he is pleased to announce that a new book of his, The Wampanoag Tribe of Martha’s Vineyard: Colonization to Recognition, has just been published and is available locally. The book is a history of the tribe, with interviews and brief biographies of key members. It is a readable story which brings the Island history into focus. He also plans to hold a talk at the Howes House this summer.
Hermine Merel Smith, of Edgartown Road, opened her gallery for the summer season last weekend. The hours this year are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her oil paintings and Ruth Kirchmeier’s woodcuts are on display.
Stephanie Dreyer reports the Martha’s Vineyard Horse Council is hosting two hunter shows this summer. You will find riders competing in the hunter arena, both on the flat and jumping, at the Agricultural Society Fair Grounds on Sunday and again on July 10. Both shows begin around 7:30 a.m. Parking is free and spectators welcome! Please visit mvhorsecouncil.org for more information. Also the School’s Spring Book Fair runs until Tuesday. The Grandparents/Parents/Those Whom We Love Breakfast is Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Please call Stephanie, with her other hat on, in the library with any questions.
Donnie Morgan reports that after enjoying a great week hosting Camp Safe Haven in April, the youth hostel opened for its 65th hostel season on May 13. Hostel staff report that there was a full house over Memorial Day weekend that included two Girl Scout troops from western Massachusetts as well as travelers from Germany, Ireland, Australia and several different states in the U.S. Also returning for a second consecutive Memorial Day weekend was a family of three generations, cycling the Island for three days, youngest age 11. Grandfather and leader of the clan first came to the hostel as the leader of an AYH cycling group 35 years ago. On another historical note, a gentleman cyclist stopped by earlier in the month and told the staff stories about his experience as a volunteer who helped in 1955 with the move from the airport to the newly built hostel on the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. The staff hopes he will be able to locate the photos he promised to send, as they are working on a new display about the history of the first purpose-built hostel in the USA. Although the summer is shaping up to be a busy one, there’s still availability for most weeks during the season, so give a call or stop by if you have friends or family who might want to stay at the hostel. The 2011 season will extend through the Monday morning of Columbus Day Weekend.
Paddy Moore, of Alley Way, reports the Martha’s Vineyard Arts and Culture Collaborative show to inform the hospitality industry about the many arts and cultural happenings on the Vineyard this summer is at the Grange Hall on Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. They hope anyone interested in the arts will also stop by to find out more.
Colleen Morris, over at the library, reports that there will be an opening reception today at 4 p.m. for Lucy Mitchell. She is the artist for June at the library. There will be another public forum on library expansion on Monday at 5:30 p.m. Stop by to listen and express your point of view on the library expansion plan.
Dan Sharkovitz, summer school director at the regional high school, reports that registration is now open for soccer, football, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, robotics, guitar, arts and crafts and much more. Call him at 508 693-1033, extension 235.
Remember beach stickers will go on sale Saturday June 18 at the school shed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The stickers will be required beginning June 25.
Happy birthday to Jenifer Alameda, Casey Decker and Sian Williams today; George Hartman, Debra Yapp, Stephanie Brothers, Lisa Kimball and Lisa Morrison tomorrow; Michael Bellissimo, Dale Julier, Margery Meltzer, Jason Look and Sima Rashba on Sunday; Dorothy Gregory, Mary French, Hildy Mitchell, Mike Faraca and Ernie Barrett on Monday; Andrea Hartman, Steve Berlucchi, Cheryl Grimes and Holly Pennington on Tuesday; Susanna Sturgis, John Powers, Richard Andrade and Melinda Brodsky on Wednesday; Woollcott Smith, Elise Fisher, Jodi Blair, Katherine Walsh and Josh Gothard on Thursday. Belated anniversary wishes to Dan and Dorothy Whiting, and Roger and Gloria Sylva, who celebrated their 43rd.
Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. June 6 is the 67th anniversary of D-Day. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.
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