JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Well, spring will be here in a mere five days and that will not be soon enough for many of us. We were battered by a northeaster that didn’t leave much of any snow, but the wind sure did howl with gusts up to 65 mph. All boat service was canceled for last Thursday and the beginning of Friday. The weekend weather was decent, even if it was a bit windy.
People are slowly adjusting to Daylight Saving Time. The snowdrops are in full bloom at the Betty Knox house, at Phyllis Meras’s house on Music Street and at Charlie Kernick’s house on Edgartown Road. Susan Block reports that she spotted perhaps the first mayflower of the season on Tuesday, and daffodils are close to bursting open in several yards around town.
The lambing season has begun and Eleanor Neubert reports new additions to the flock each day. Bea Whiting reports that the lambing season will begin at the farm in two weeks. Katherine Long will soon be catering to newborn chicks. It is also about time to locate the barbecue that was carefully put away last fall, and while you’re at it give Jim’s small engine repair a call and schedule an appointment to tune up your lawn mower.
Another sure sign of spring: Tuesday will be the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day! Bouquets can be purchased at the Edgartown Stop & Shop on Tuesday afternoon, or at Vineyard Haven Cronig’s or the hospital on Wednesday morning. The cost is $10. In return you will receive a bunch of budded daffodils ready to blossom that will support cancer research.
With the return of spring, many people are returning home from extended stays away.
Warren and Marilyn Hollingshead of Pond View Farm Road returned home last Wednesday after their annual six-week vacation on Punta Gorda Island. Warren reports that they had a wonderful time and the weather was wonderful. While there they met a classmate of mine, Carol Hall Merchant, who asked for me!
Phyllis Meras of Music street has returned home after a business trip to Europe and a week in New York city visiting friends. She is expecting Sal Laterra to come down for a visit next week.
Any Boass and his wife, Susie, one of the famous Glimmerglass Girls, have been relaxing on their farm off Middle Road. Andy puts out jars of homegrown honey on their roadside table every morning.
Richard and Toni Cohen of Edgartown Road returned home yesterday after an extended working vacation in Florida.
Frank and Celeste Polagruto of Great Plains Road celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last Wednesday. They had dinner cooked for them and shared it with family and close friends.
Ben and Paddy Moore of Alley Way recently returned from their fourth annual week’s vacation at the BodyHoliday resort on St. Lucia, a welcome change from this year’s cold Vineyard winter. They enjoyed the warm, sunny climate, fine rooms overlooking the beach and ocean, a wide range of activities, a daily massage and healthy island-grown food.
Alan Rabinowitz of Dancing Hill has written a new book: Middle Way Progressive and Social Change since World War II. Alan and his wife and family have summered in this town for many years. He writes of the many social changes in America developed from the New Deal and President Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms doctrine. It is a must-read.
Ellen Gaskill reports that the annual Martha’s Vineyard Health Fair takes place tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be screenings and exhibits designed to increase awareness about health issues, promote healthy lifestyles and highlight all of the health services and medical programs available on and off-Island. For more information, call 508-693-4645.
Beth Kramer, library director, reports that on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Chilmark library, Aquinnah library director Lisa Sherman will introduce up-Island customers to the new CLAMS library system. Additional classes will follow on consecutive Wednesdays. Call them at 508-645-3360 for more information.
Kim Johnson, over at the Congregational Church, reports that Holy Week begins with the Tenebrae service on Holy Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 pm. The deacons are pleased to announce that you will be able to celebrate Easter this year with two services. They will hold the annual Easter sunrise service at Ann Nelson’s home beginning at 6 am. Like last year, the second service will take place at the Agricultural Hall at 10 a.m.
On March 17, 1947 the Grange held a St. Patrick’s Day party at the Agricultural Hall that was decorated with shamrocks. More than 50 members were in attendance and several local musicians, including Everett Whiting, Mike and Leonard Athearn, Ernest Correllus and Elmer Silva, gathered to play and sing Irish tunes. George Magnuson sang several Irish solos and he brought the house down with his rendition of When Irish Eyes are smiling.
Happy birthday to: Edmund Cottle, Peter Fisher, Dr. Jay Segel, Dwight Kaeka and Tamara Hersh today; Robyn Bollin, Mike Stutz, Geraldine Roddy and Jemima James tomorrow; Estelle Thompson, Maureen Hitchings, Patricia Sheehan, Richard Leonard and Bill Wilcox on Sunday; Bob Douglas, Patricia McCarthy, Jake Merrill, Emily Walsh and Chuck Schmidt on Monday; Patrick Jenkinson, Shelly Brown, and Joanne Roddy on Tuesday; John Bartkus, Arthur Eakin, Linda Hughes, Betsy MacDonald and Maria Moody on Wednesday; and Jon Nelson, Heather Rynd, Nora Winsryg and Julie Robinson on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Richard Skidmore, Sarah Anne Nelson and Mike Stutz; also belated first anniversary greetings to Ann Billings and David Thompson.
Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. Please call or email me with your news. I trust you will not forget to wear something green on Sunday. After the traditional dinner of corned beef, cabbage and soda bread, be sure and watch the 1944 Oscar-winning film Going My Way with Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. I would like to close this week’s column with an old Irish blessing: “May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead”! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody.
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