JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
We spent Mother’s Day with our daughter, Nicole, her husband, Arsen, and grandson Robbie in Taunton and Newport, R.I. The weather was spectacular. Moms couldn’t have asked for a better day.
I want to thank Alan Gowell for minding the cemeteries, Raine Monast and her dad for writing my column, Maya Sharp for sorting the mail and Manny Estrella for cross walk duties. Manny took ill while I was away but I understand he now is on the mend.
Yes, we have returned from our trip to England, and it was fascinating. Anna put a lot of work into making all of the pieces fit and did a remarkable job, and I will be forever grateful. I never realized that the place was so steeped in history, from the Romans, Saxons, Normans and Vikings. The countryside was so beautiful, with lots of sheep and cows and either green hedges or stone walls bordering the roadside; many of the roads were six or seven feet wide. I was amazed at the number of people visiting, and there seemed to be groups everywhere that spoke foreign languages and were on a guided tour. My wife has several relatives living there, and we visited most of them. They gave us wonderful personal tours of their areas of the country. In London, we visited the Churchill War rooms, Tower of London, Westminster Abby, the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and cruised on the Thames. I could go on and on about what I have learned on our trip and I may in future columns, but now to the social news.
Nicole Alley, Robbie and Arsen and Anna’s sister, Nina, all arrived, as Will Monast aptly put it, “before your tire marks were cold in the driveway” to begin “operation clean sweep,” as they put it. They cleaned the house, which needed it and tossed out way too much stuff. My clothes were pitched, and I have next to nothing to wear. They did a fine job. I even went to the Dumptique to see if I could find any of my old clothes, but to no avail. Sal Laterra stopped by and asked them for one of my old shirts then tried to sell it back to me when I got home!
Michelene Sonia reports that this evening the West Tisbury eighth graders will be attending the second annual all-Island eighth grade mixer at the Agricultural Hall. It is time for the eighth-grade students to kick up their heels and celebrate the end of their successful elementary years and the start of high school. The event is for all current Island eighth grade students attending an Island school, Falmouth Academy or a home school, and their parents.
The event is from 6 until 10 p.m. Parents and guardians may stay for the first hour and enjoy some light refreshments and a performance by the high school Minnesingers. High school principal Steven Nixon, superintendent James Weiss, guidance counselor John Fiorito and all school principals will also be present. Then the kids will continue their evening from 7 until 10 p.m. with entertainment by deejay Darren Belisle. The event is sponsored by the Dukes County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Warren and Marilyn Hollingshead of Pond View Farm Road recently returned from taking their grandchildren to Colonial Williamsburg, visiting family in North Carolina, friends in Washington, D.C., and museums in New York city. Now he says it’s time for gardening.
Nationally-known cartoonist Paul Karasik of this town has another of his gems in the current issue of The New Yorker Magazine.
Sig Van Raan of Music street and New York city proudly reports that the consulate general of Israel in New York and the American Society of Yad Vashem recently presented the Righteous Among Nations Award to Gerard and Gerda Van Raan (his parents) for their selfless and courageous actions during the Holocaust, saving Jewish lives. The ceremony took place at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life in New York city. The award recognizes those people who upheld morality and human values in the midst of a moral vacuum. This tribute attempts to convey the gratitude of the State of Israel and the Jewish people to those who stood by their side during a time of persecution and great tragedy. Those who are so recognized receive a certificate of honor and their names are commemorated on the Mount of Remembrance in Jerusalem. Accepting the award on behalf of their late parents were Heleena Van Raan and Sigmund Van Raan. In attendance were representatives of the other three families that were honored, as well as the consulate general of Israel, the consulate general of Lithuania, the deputy consulate general of The Netherlands and the consulate general of Germany.
Final planning is under way for the Up-Island Property Tour on Saturday, May 26, to benefit the preservation effort at the congregational church. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Heather Gardens, Vineyard Gardens, Middletown Nursery and in the church office. Also the Rev. Cathlin Baker, who has been on medical leave since Easter, will be welcomed back to the pulpit this Sunday.
The park and recreation committee reports that beach stickers will be available starting on June 16, every day from 10 to 1 p.m. at the park and recreation shed at the school. The Lambert’s Cove beach guards will be on the job beginning June 23. For more information call the park department in the town hall.
Jennifer Tesing over at the library reports that they will be closed today for staff training.
On Saturday the Island Children’s School will hold its annual Mayfest celebration at the school on Halcyon Way.
The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society invites you to participate in National Chamber Music Month. They will spotlight their spring concert at 7:30 p.m. on May 26 as part of the national chamber music celebration at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.
The annual Friends of Family Planning Art Show Benefit at the Agricultural Hall is coming up on Memorial Day weekend.
The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living will host its final cultural luncheon for this year’s series tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m. at The Grill on Main. The theme for this month’s luncheon is The Legacy of Farming and its Influence on our Way of Life. Program speakers are Island Grown Schools coordinator Melinda Rabbitt DeFeo, Morning Glory Farm owners Jim and Deborah Athearn and Elisha Smith. Tickets are $25. For reservations and information call Leslie Clapp at 508-939-9440.
Lynne Ditchfield reports that the Adult and Community Education food safety sanitation mini-course will hold one class on Wednesday with Alice Robinson at the high school, from 5 to 9 p.m. The fee is $60. It will be offered in English and Portuguese. Scholarships are available. You must preregister. More information is online at acemv.org or by calling 774-310-1131.
On Sunday’s date back in 1940, prime minister Winston Churchill took command as Great Britain’s new Prime Minister, and he assured Parliament that his new policy will consist of nothing less than “to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might.” This has a more significant meaning to me now that we have visited the Churchill war rooms and have a better understanding of the difficulties Britain faced every day in World War II.
Happy birthday to Ronald Silva, Thomas Stackpole and Mora Perzanowski today; Paul and Richard Garcia, Ashley McCarthy, Norman Hall and Karen Harris tomorrow; Carol Carrick, Jamie Mastromonaco, Ned Robinson-Lynch and Dianne Moyer on Sunday; Candace Widmer, John Dutton, Wayne Clay and Veronica Conover on Monday; Sally Hamilton, Judy Bryant and Donald Beaton on Tuesday; Eric Whitman, Jessica Von Mehren and Nathan Belain on Wednesday; and Tom Goethals, Chuck Hughes, Jared Montrol, Leah Ellis, Jason Gale and Lynn Buckmaster-Irwin on Thursday. Happy anniversary to Deb and Ron Kokernak on Tuesday.
Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. It is nice to be back home. Have a great week.
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