JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
The Father’s Day weather was superb and dad got to relax, at least for one day. Many cookouts were held in his honor and for once he did not have to clean up afterward. Summer begins today; the buses will be operating on full summer schedule beginning tomorrow morning. It is also the official opening day for Lambert’s Cove beach when stickers will be required. We will experience a dramatic increase in the population and automobile traffic this weekend. The public schools will be dismissed for the summer on Monday. The farmers’ market has started its Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon session until late September.
Marian Irving of Old County Road reports that the West Tisbury Congregational Church is the place to be on Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. Strawberries on shortcakes, strawberry smoothies or vanilla ice cream covered with the delicious red berries will all be available to enjoy. Come on down and grab a table on the lawn with your family and friends and do not miss this annual event. It’s the 25th annual strawberry festival and all proceeds assist in the preservation of the historic church.
Barbara Day of Willow Tree Hollow reports that she and her husband, Bob, spent several days in New York this past week attending their grandson Luke’s graduation from Trevor Academy. Luke is the son of Catha and Dave Carlson. She reported it was a wonderful occasion where any senior who wanted to was invited to speak to the audience about his or her years at Trevor and their subsequent years at college. Several of them sang and they were all very talented. They gathered in the street, which was blocked off, afterward for the reception. She and Bob also enjoyed a visit to the Whitney Museum and an exhibit of David Hockney’s drawings.
Over 50 antique automobiles, ranging from a Ford Model T to a 1976 Plymouth, arrived last Thursday for their annual visit and exhibition. Their owners are members of the Boston Area Roadsters. Several of them stopped at the Field Gallery last Saturday and immediately drew a large crowd of people curious to see the cars close up and ask the owners questions. A beautifully restored 1949 Chevrolet seemed to draw a lot of attention.
Dudley and Nancy Eppel of Pond View Farm Road arrived recently from Vero Beach, Fla., to spend the summer at their home. Dudley has already planted a vegetable garden in the backyard. He expects several family visits by his children during the summer.
Dr. Carey Rosenthal and his wife Abby of Upper Darby, Pa., arrived last weekend to spend some quality time at their State Road home. They had their wedding anniversary dinner with his sister Sara and Dr. Julie Prazich, who had arrived just before Memorial Day weekend at their Lambert’s Cove home.
Sandra Polleys of Hamptons Farms, Pa., was in town last week visiting friends and savoring seafood, which is hard to come by out her way. She was the guest speaker at the Dukes County Health Council last Monday morning. She spoke about her recently completed healthcare dissertation, which she compiled using Vineyard residents.
Will Monast, his wife Leslei and their son Beau went down to Virginia to visit his sister last weekend. They encountered the horrific weather plaguing the area last week. Will reports they had a fine time even though the traffic going into New York city was horrendous on their return.
Malcolm and Judy Hall of Oklahoma City and Pond Road returned to the Island last week. Their son Houston came with them for the summer. Their daughter Emily is here frantically preparing for her wedding in August. Her parents are busy preparing the house for family and friends that will be visiting them on the Fourth of July.
Norman and Mary Lou Perry of Vineyard Meadow Farms flew out to San Ramon, Calif., recently to be at their granddaughter’s graduation. They report having a wonderful time.
Sal Laterra of Providence, R.I., arrived on Monday to spend the week with Phyllis Meras at her Music street home. Sal immediately turned his attention to mowing her lawn, as he had not been here in two weeks. You see, he mows his lawn every three days!
Lee Revere reports that they are starting to work on the 56th annual library book sale. Books in good condition can be donated by dropping them off at the shed near the place where you buy beach stickers. Shortly after school is dismissed for the summer you may deliver them to the school gym where preparations will begin for the annual book sale, which will be held late next month.
The park and recreation committee reports that beach stickers have been available since Saturday and every weekday thereafter from 9 a.m. to noon and weekends from 4 to 7 p.m. at the shed near the tennis courts at the school on Old County Road. Stickers will be required as the beach opens with lifeguards tomorrow. Stickers remain at $50 and a walk-on pass is $10. The park board will host Red Cross-certified swimming lessons at Uncle Seth’s Pond beginning July 8.
Maria McFarland, board administrator of the Conservation Commission, reports that the personnel board has an opening for one volunteer member. Interested parties can contact her at 508-696-6404 or at personnel@westtibury-ma.gov.
Hunter Moorman, chairman of the West Tisbury Library Foundation, reports that the outlines of their renovated and expanded library are beginning to emerge from behind slowly diminishing piles of earth. With $1.8 million in private donations set aside for the basic construction, the foundation is shifting its focus to other needs and now seeks to raise an additional $300,000 for landscaping, furniture and equipment not included in the project budget. One way to help the foundation meet its goal is to buy a brick engraved with your personalized message to be embedded in the entrance walkway to the library. Bricks are $125 each, and can be purchased either at the library or at the Farmers’ Market at the Grange Hall. Bricks ordered by August 31 will be installed by the time the renovated and expanded building re-opens to the public. For large scale donors there are numerous naming opportunities, including whole rooms and portions of the library gardens. For these, it’s best to contact the chair at 202-309-4896.
The foundation is looking for a few dedicated, library-loving individuals who are willing to pitch in and help with events, ticket sales, brick orders and the like.
Jennifer Tseng at the library reminds everyone that their summer reading kick-off will be on Saturday, July 6 at 11 a,m, in the Agricultural Hall. Musician Vanessa Trien will perform.
Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports that she has absentee ballots on hand in her office for the special Senate election, or you may vote in person up until the day before. The election will be held on Tuesday and the poll hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.
Kathy Kitsock reports that on June 29 and 30 the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club presents its biennial Bloomin’ Art exhibit at the Old Mill. This event pays tribute to 30 Vineyard artists. You’ll see extraordinary floral arrangements and the works of art that inspired them. The art is for sale and there is a $5 admission fee. The hours are Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, June 30 from noon to 3 p.m.
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum invites everybody to a community lighthouse and solstice celebration tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Gay Head Lighthouse. It coincides with summer solstice and the beginning of the Keep on Shining campaign to relocate and restore the Gay Head Lighthouse. The evening will include free music, food and a raffle. The rain date is June 22.
History Note: On June 28, 1950 a dozen of the members of the West Tisbury Grange #251 had nearly finished what seemed like an impossible task of clearing the Mill Pond of the dreaded parrot weed that was so thick it virtually choked the pond. Grangers volunteered their time for more than three months to pull out the weed from the man-made pond that was built to supply water power to the Old Mill building across the street. Joe White of Oak Bluffs and his crane helped out by building up the banks with silt material. When the project was finished the Grange purchased the first pair of swans to inhabit in the pond, The reason for doing so was that they are very partial to parrot weed and would help to keep it under control. Over the years, several sets of swans have called the pond home. So many that people today often refer to it as the swan pond.
Happy birthday to Stan Hersh, Karen Lipsky and Matt Stackpole today, Mary Louise Perry, Richard Sylva and John Moore celebrate tomorrow. Ben Moore, Peter O. Bettencourt, Marti Mariner, Russ Cote and Lt. Brian Kennedy have birthdays on Sunday. Eric Johnson, Bess Child and David Franklin have a birthday on Monday. Alicia Tonti, Lynn Bouck, Maryrose Sarja, Sarah Murphy and Kathy Retmier celebrate on Tuesday. Thalia Scanlan, Jonathan Belain, David Steere and Woody Bowman have a happy birthday on Wednesday. Happy birthday to Samantha Look, Alvida Jones, Michelle Ciccone, Lynn Weber and Sam Decker on Thursday. Belated anniversary wishes to David Lewis and his wife Danica Kombol, Carey and Abby Rosenthal, and Tony Silva and Dianne McDonough.
Well that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news, please call or email me. Have a great week.
Comments
Comment policy »