JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

The weekend weather was delightful and summer-like. A lot of backyard barbecuing was done all around town and it was wonderful. Business people report that there have been a lot of people around and the traffic confirms that it has been busier than last year. The weatherman tells us that we are on pace for one of the warmest July’s on record. Reliable Market down in Oak Bluffs reports that they are busy from morning until 6 p.m., offering reasonable prices on groceries and meat. Warren Hollingshead has been spotted around town driving a nifty new red car. The legislature has approved a tax holiday bill that will exempt you from sales tax sometime next month. And Gov. Deval Patrick is going to be in town on Saturday, holding a community meeting as part of his statewide summer conversation tour this Saturday, July 23, from noon to 1 p.m. in the center green at Eliakim’s Way (250 State Road) in West Tisbury. At this neighborhood of green affordable homes, the governor is eager to engage in an open discussion with Island residents on any subject of concern to them. Feel free to bring a beach chair, towel, etc. along with your thoughts and ideas. This is not a fundraiser, and all are welcome.

The governor also will sign copies of his memoir, Reason to Believe, at Trinity Church in the Camp Ground in Oak Bluffs, at 3 p.m. and will attend a fundraiser at the Fulps on Brewster avenue on East Chop.

Emily Gadd, of South Road, reports that she usually has an abundance of squash and the other vegetables by now but her garden is late this year. She has taken up fishing and landed a few bluefish and has made some fabulous fish dishes.

It appears that an apology is in order to Barbara Day and the item offered last week with family names mentioned. It should have read this way:

Since David McCullough read from his new book, The Great Journey, at the Agricultural Hall on Wednesday it’s interesting to note that Elizabeth Blackwell, the first American woman doctor, whom he writes about, has long ties to the Vineyard. The Blackwell family first came to the Vineyard in 1864. Several of her brothers’ and sisters’ families still live here or come seasonally.

Her niece, Florence Blackwell married Edward Elliot Mayhew, then owner of the Chilmark Store.

Some of her relative’s names are da Rosa, Shipway, Mercer, Herman, Cullen, Belden, Mayhew, Nitchie, Stoeber, D’Ascensio, Rose, Desch, Jones, Lee, Meegan, Huntington, Robinson, Day, Carlson and Churchill.

The National Mosaic Exhibition on Cape Cod begins next Tuesday at Highfield Hall in Falmouth. Our own Jenifer Strachan, of Waldron’s Bottom Road, will be exhibiting her mosaics there all summer.

Remember the Friends of the Library 54th annual benefit book sale will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School cafeteria this year because the school is being repaired. The sale starts next Friday and runs until Monday, August 1. So mark those dates on your calendar today. Lee Revere reports that the sale time will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. For more information about donations or the sale contact the library at 508-693-3366.

Buddy Oliver, Commander of the American Legion Post # 257 down in Vineyard Haven, reports that they are selling lobster rolls with a bag of chips and a cold drink for $13 every Tuesday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at their headquarters on Martin Road.

Vacationing at the Plakins’ house for the past two weeks were Liza Lawson her husband, Patrick, and their children, Sophia and Olivia Seward. They are from Toronto, Canada, and this is their seventh visit as they have come to enjoy the Island lifestyle. They enjoyed the beaches, shopping and the people. Liza’s friend, Samantha Linton, of the CBC, visited for a few days. Lisa reports that she liked the house very much and how quiet the area is and hopes to come back again next year.

Kelly Doane and Kevin Hensey were married in Edgartown on Sunday in a civil ceremony.

Ellen Weiss, of Old County Road, reports that last week she had visitors, her brother, Julian, and his wife, Kathy Reed, from New York and their son, Evan, and Angela Coleri from Los Angeles. This was Angela’s first trip to the Vineyard. She liked the beaches and the beauty but not the humidity.

Peter Ochs and Gudrun Walensdorfer had dinner with the Alleys Sunday night and tonight he is taking all of his old friends to dinner in Oak Bluffs. They have begun preparations to leave in 10 days for Austria. They vow to return next year.

Noah and Susan Block, of Music street, returned home on Sunday after spending a week in San Francisco on business.

John Kelleher, senior deacon, reports that another Sundaes on Saturday event will be held tomorrow over at the Congregational Church from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please join them on the lawn of the beautiful historic church for an old-fashioned ice cream social. It’s a great family event serving cones, sundaes and iced tea.

Ann Fielder, of New Lane, reports that her son, Evan, and his wife, Christine, of Old Courthouse Road are having a display of Turkish ceramics, including designs from the time of the 14th century sultans at their shop, Fielder & Fielder, on North Road near Menemsha Crossroad, today through Monday.

Sarah Darsigny, over at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, reports that in honor of the museum’s ongoing exhibit, Your Town, Our Island, which is designed to celebrate the different characters and voices of the Island’s separate towns, they are offering free admission to all seasonal and year-round residents of West Tisbury next week. In addition, for this one week residents will receive $10 off family memberships, $5 off individual memberships, and 10 per cent off any higher membership level. Bring your family, and learn about your town! Feel free to contact her at 617-778-4259 if you have any questions or comments.

Jennifer, over at the library, reports that on Tuesday at 5 p.m. award-winning poets Michael Palmer and Julie Carr will read from their new books at the West Tisbury Public Library. On Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. the library will host a book talk and signing for Robert Bagg, whose book The Complete Plays of Sophocles: A New Translation, cotranslated with James Scully, was released yesterday.

Rez Williams, of Edgartown Road, will host an opening with his latest paintings at Shephard Fine ArtSpace in Oak Bluffs tomorrow from 6 to 8 p.m. His show will be on display until August 5.

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 riding his wheel Monday afternoon. Vincent was riding home and Martin traveling in the opposite direction when they 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 drugstore 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: Katie Hart, Mike Hull and Maureen Healy today; Dan Bradley, Maria Blouin, Angela Loessberg and Jennison Adamson tomorrow; Mike Hull, Bob Ogden, Darah Schwartz, Spencer Thurlow, Cathy Folan, Nica Sylvia, Primo Lombardi and Gregory Small on Sunday; Fran Bradley, Cynthia Mitchell, Jeff Smith and Charles Morgan on Monday; Doug Reid, Mariko Kawaguchi, Max Decker and Mary Folin on Tuesday; Stacy Haden, Greg Orcutt, Beth Serusa and Allen Whiting on Wednesday; Julie Humphreys, Bob Day, Dan Rossi and Amanda Lobb Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Minor Knight, Bruce Stone 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’s column. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.