JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Well, September has slipped away as quick as a wink and we are now in the fall season. The weekend weather, however, felt more like summer than fall. In fact it was one of the warmest on record, with five days during which the temperature reached 80 degrees. It has been unusually muggy, too. The bass derby is in full swing and the fish appear to be plentiful. The automobile traffic is definitely slower as we approach the last full week of the “shoulder season.” Folks are looking forward the harvest festival and antique power show this weekend. Can Halloween be just 30 days away? The advertising has begun in earnest.
Last Saturday, there were several weddings; some of them were local couples: Sam Decker and Katy Lee Plasse, Amy Fournier and Jason Kurth, Jamie Hays and Nicole Brodie, Elliot Coutts and Alexandra Bullen. Congratulations.
Cycle Martha’s Vineyard is tomorrow, with two routes, 100k and 50k.
Dan and Elaine Pace returned home recently from a monthlong trip to Seattle, Wash., their first visit, to welcome their newest grandchild, Andrew Pace Barclay. Elaine reports that it is beautiful country. They had a chance to hike on Mt. Rainier, on the Olympic Peninsula and to enjoy the fabulous gardens in Victoria, B.C. They traveled to Victoria on 9/11 on another brand of steamships — each passenger got a red and white carnation to toss into the sea in memory of the victims of 9/11 — very moving. They returned to the Vineyard blessed with three grandchildren!
Shirley Mayhew, of Pond Road, reports that her son, Jack, and his wife, Betsey, recently celebrated their wedding anniversary. However, they weren’t exactly celebrating because Jack was in the hospital suffering from an infection caused when his cat bit him. She believes it is called Cat-Scratch Disease. He was scheduled to drive their daughter, Caroline, and Dan Johnson to Washington, D.C., where they have rented an apartment. Caroline will start work at a law firm early in October. However, when he entered the hospital, Betsey drove down with them, thus postponing any anniversary plans. Jack came home last Friday, and Betsey arrived soonafter. Shirley’s daughter, Sarah, has returned to Davis, Calif., where the temperature is in the 90s, after spending summer with her mother.
Elton Nascimento and his wife, Sarah Monast, of Old Courthouse Road, returned home on Monday after a long weekend in Vermont visiting friends and checking out the autumn leaves.
The Living Local Harvest Festival starts tonight and all day tomorrow at the Agricultural Hall on Panhandle Road from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Workshops, exhibits, pumpkin carving, cider pressing, a bike parade and a farmers’ market are part of the festival, as is a community potluck supper on Saturday at 6 p.m. with music and dancing afterwards.
George Hartman reports that the 23rd annual Antique Power Show will be happening during the festival in the new barn on the ag fair grounds. He asks all exhibitors to set up between 9 and 10 a.m. on Saturday or late Friday afternoon. He will be there on Friday after 4 p.m. and said any help is welcome. If you have any questions, please call him at 508-693-6039. George, the master of steam engines, will display early automotive engines from the mid-1890s through 1903. He is planning to run his 1903 Locomobile car engine on live steam during the show, plus display his 1902 reproduction of a Nash Rambler, which is one of only four still in existence. George spends countless hours working on steam engines and may have another old engine newly restored in time for the show.
Tara Whiting reports that the MV Junior Horse Council is hosting the Fall Fuzzy horse show on Saturday. The show starts around 9 a.m. with flat and jumping classes first, followed by games classes such as sit-a-buck and egg-and-spoon.
Lynne Demond, of Boston, stopped by to visit on Sunday. She is here for a few days with a friend, showing him around the Island.
Our daughter, Nicole Alley, and her husband, Arsen Hambardzumian, of East Taunton, arrived last Sunday for a brief visit. Arsen completed three septic inspections and he finished up an engineering job in Vineyard Haven.
Noah and Susan Block, of Music street, returned home late Sunday after a long weekend down in New York city. They celebrated their wedding anniversary and Susan’s birthday.
Woody Bowman, of Panhandle Road, reports that he and his wife, Susie, were in New York city this past weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of FOCUS on Saturday with hundreds of FOCUS alumni, parents, and staff and trustees of all eras. Daytime events were held at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church with speakers, alumni panels and worship. The evening featured a gala benefit dinner with 340 in attendance and a young alumni reception with another hundred folks, both events at the Harvard Club. While FOCUS has been on Lambert’s Cove Road since 1973, the first FOCUS programs were in the Adirondacks in 1961, and for many years programs were held in Pawling, N.Y. In the summers of 1970 and 1971, FOCUS rented the Vanderhoop Homestead; among the dozens of students who came to FOCUS those two summers, was his future wife, Susie, who spent a week in 1971.
Stephanie Dreyer, over at the school, reports that she has been hosting their annual Fall Book Fair. It will wrap up on Monday; the hours are 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. and evening hours 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. She hopes to see community members browsing and shopping.
Brie Bingham, over at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, reports that tonight at 5 p.m. at museum headquarters in Edgartown there will be a special members-only preview of Out of the Depths: Vineyard Shipwrecks. You will have an opportunity to talk with author/photographer Sam Low regarding his experiences diving at the site of the Port Hunter and City of Columbus shipwrecks.
Stan Hersh, over at Conroy’s in North Tisbury, reports that they will be holding a flu clinic today, tomorrow and Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment necessary.
Ginger Duarte reports that if you want to get rid of any old computers, printers, or electrical appliances small and large, Electronic Disposal Day is tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.
The fourth annual Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Walk, sponsored by community services, is scheduled for Oct. 8 this year. Registration starts at 10 a.m.; the walk through downtown Edgartown begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Edgartown Park & Ride lot. Tickets are $5 ahead and $10 on the day. Bring the family; water and snacks provided. For more, call 508-684-8074, extension 101 or e-mail hcampbell@mvcommunityservices.com.
Jennifer Tseng, over at the library, reports that the Fall Reading Series will take place every Thursday in October at 5:30 p.m. The readings will be followed by question time and refreshments. The series is free and open to all.
Liz, over at Vineyard Gardens, reports that on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vineyard Gardens will hold their annual Harvest Festival at the nursery on State Road. Free fun for the whole family, the day features fall displays of plants, nature crafts for young and old, and the food is fantastic — chili, hot dogs, carmel apples and jalapeno corn bread!
Lois Virtue reminds you to save this date: The 40th annual United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard Harvest Supper will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22 in Vineyard Haven For more information, call 508-693-4424.
On a personal note, we have been undergoing some interior renovation at the old house recently. The work is being handled by Elton Nascimento, who has been remodeling the parlor/dinning room. His friend, Rodrigo Ferreira, has done the painting work and they are highly recommended should anyone ask. Elton discovered in the ceiling a piece of wood containing a signature of one of the carpenters, dating back to 1880. Also we have had a plaster of Paris ceiling medallion, a must-have item in that era, especially in your parlor, with the same date. He will hang the chandelier given us by Jane and Ed Konicki more than 20 years ago.
This is my editor, Lauren Martin’s, final edition of the paper. She and her husband, Mike Seccombe, and their children are moving back to Australia by the end of the year. It has been a pleasure working with her, and I want to wish them all the best.
Happy birthday to: Kent Healy, PJ Kirby, Jr., Ed Child, Becky Coroner, Phoebe Potts, Tristan Israel and John Spheris today; Chris Stein, Pam Thomas and Wesley Look tomorrow; Ellen Gaskell, Rick Lee, Barry Donner and Doug Hake on Sunday; Barbara Bennett, Robert Tonti, Coco Adams, David Kelleher and Christy Phillipps on Monday; Anna Carringer, Tess Bramhall, Jim Young, Fain Hackney, Zack Post and Kathy Logue on Tuesday; Tim Maley, Fred Fisher 3rd and Kathy Chaves on Wednesday; Ben Reeve, Akia Miranda, Catherine Flynn and James O’Connor on Thursday. Anniversary greetings to Will and Leslei Monast on Monday.
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