JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Well, it is clearly evident that the winter blahs have set in. Last weekend’s weather was the coldest so far this winter, but with an absence of snow. By this time in years past the town had exhausted its entire snow removal budget, so chances are we will get a dusting this weekend. The high winds, with gusts in excess of 60 mph, last Friday caused the Steamship Authority to cancel all boats to and from the Vineyard, delaying for many the start of a long weekend.
Don’t forget that this is a leap year, so all of the children born on that date get to celebrate a real birthday on Feb. 29! Also we are less than two short months away from the start of daylight saving time and spring. Seed catalogs have been arriving in the daily mail for the last week, giving us the time to study them in front of the fireplace. Postal rates will be going up next week.
Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports that the census should be on its way to you. Please look for it and send it back as soon as possible. If needed, there will be a dog license renewal form enclosed. Dogs must be licensed annually. If you have any question, do not hesitate to call the town clerk at 696-0148 from 8:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m.
A couple of deadlines are fast approaching that you ought to keep in mind. Wednesday, Feb. 15 is the last day to either register to vote or change your party designation for the presidential primary. The three parties that will have primary ballots are Democrat, Green-Rainbow and Republican. If you are registered in any of these, or registered unenrolled, you may vote on March 6 from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m. at the Public Safety Building in North Tisbury. Nomination papers for the annual town elections are also available. Candidates need to have 20 signatures of registered voters in this town and return it to the town clerk by 5 p.m. Feb. 23. If you need an absentee ballot, you must submit, or come in and fill out, an absentee ballot application. Applications are good for a calendar year only, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. If you requested one last year it has expired! Please call her with any questions at 508-696-0148.
Anna Alley, of State Road, returned home on Monday after visiting our grandchild, Robert John, and his parents in East Taunton.
Jennifer Tseng, over at the library, reports that on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 4:30 p.m. author Cynthia Riggs and photographer Lynn Christoffers will be talking about their new book, Victoria Trumbull’s Martha’s Vineyard. The event is free and open to the public. The library will be accepting nominations for the new West Tisbury Poet Laureate until Feb. 1. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be at the library on Feb. 2 at 10:30 a.m. You are invited to come over and play with him.
Cynthia Riggs, of Edgartown Road, reports that everyone is invited to the 25th annual Groundhog Day Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cleaveland House, on Edgartown Road. All are welcome. Bring your favorite hors d’oeuvres, if you’d like, but that’s not a requirement. Parking will be in the west pasture and can easily be reached if you take the first left as you turn down New Lane Road. This winter event has been regarded by many to be the kickoff of the campaign season on the local level. For more information call her at 508-693-9352.
Lynne Ditchfield reports that the new session of Adult and Community Education (ACE MV) classes will begin in full force tomorrow. Most classes will be held at the regional high school. It is best to check with her at 774-310-1131 or leave voicemail 508-693-1033, ext 240 for the class, location and exact time.
On Feb. 1, 1954 Stanley Eddy of Chilmark announced he had leased the former Ole Borgen/Maud Call store, which he had purchased at public auction, to Miss Erdine Cobb, of New York city. The building had many uses over the years, as a store, post office, a parlor that featured famous homemade ice cream and penny candy. It was also the headquarters of the only filling station in North Tisbury, which sold Texaco Fire Chief Gasoline and had only one pump. Miss Cobb planned to operate a special kind of catering service, limited to providing casserole dishes, hors d’oeurves, sandwiches and canapés for cocktail parties and teas. Miss Cobb named her business the Covered Dish and she planned to open around Memorial Day. The business was to be open only during the peak season as Miss.Cobb was otherwise employed during the winter months. She was to take up residency in the newly remodeled apar tment about May 1, when all the renovation work was completed. Miss Cobb was excited at this golden opportunity and believed it to be a profitable business venture.
Happy birthday to: Nancy Cabot, Lee McCormack, Nancy Rogers, Jena Wingood and Mary Pate today; Bob Luskin, Carl Tack, Nili Goldstein and Peter Benjamin tomorrow; Sandy Atwood, Willie Levesque and Anya Toteanu on Sunday; Georgiana White, Kristine Scheffer, Alexandra Rothwell and Paul Vanlandingham on Monday; Zack Wiesner, Lewis Waring and Dan Sharkovitz on Tuesday; Abigail Higgins, Tony Omer, Avril Espy, Mitchell Gordon and Zackery Schwager on Wednesday; Harold Lawry, Melissa Clay, Cathleen Vincent, John Scalia, Leigh Hammond, Karen Coffey and Ed Sylvia on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Catherine Deese, Nora Nevin and Annabelle Brothers.
Well, that is all of the social news — what there was of it — for this week’s edition. Trivia fact: A mere 55 years ago today Patsy Cline sang the now classic Walkin’ After Midnight and gained national attention with her winning appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, one of the most popular programs of the early days of television. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.
Comments
Comment policy »