The weekend weather was very good, so much warmer that even the grass is starting to green up. Sunday found us under a blue sky with much milder temperatures. The orioles (birds that is) are returning to town. The late Emma Whiting had kept records to prove that they always return by May 12, and bird watchers will keep a sharp eye out for them on Tuesday. The baseball fields and tennis court were busy last weekend and there was a Little League game at the firehouse field. Many seasonal businesses have or are getting ready to open for the season. The Glass Works, Middletown Nursery and Bananas clothing store and a new one, Middletown Lawn Mower, are now open. Mary Blake’s outdoor pie gazebo will be open on weekends starting next weekend. The warm weather has allowed the trees in the cemetery to break out into full bloom.

The Friends of Antique Road Transportation visited the Island for the first time last Friday. They are the owners of 25 old cars 1915 or earlier, several of them were Locomobiles, making a trip around the Island. Four of them stopped at Alley’s store for a break. Seeing them in front of the store sure did turn the clock back 100 years, if only for a few minutes. I followed one home from near the airport and you could see from the narrow wheelbase, thin tires and height off the road how they could easily maneuver on dirt roads. The four-door touring car was humming along at a constant 35 mph until it got to the New Lane intersection.

Ava and Naomi Plakins of Philadelphia were here this weekend to get a firsthand look at the remodeling work underway at their Middle Road estate. They are planning a return in two weeks.

Carol Craven arrived last week at her Music street home for the season. She will be expecting many visitors this summer. Dr. Jay Segel of Pond Road and his wife Celine recently returned from a two-week vacation in Kingston, Jamaica.

Lynn Christoffers of Edgartown Road, a nationally known photographer, returns home Friday after a trip to Flemington, N.J., where she visited her family and photographed a new baby nephew, Oliver Thomas Wong, in Lebanon, N.J.

Marjorie Pierce reports that this year’s community suppers extended until the end of April were enormously successful. Despite weeks of snow, ice and cold weather they served over 800 meals. She wants to thank all of the volunteers and everyone involved in making the Wednesday night dinners such a success. Also, May 10 is World Fair Trade Day and the First Congregational Church is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its fair trade coffee mission project. In recognition of this anniversary, customers will receive a 20 per cent discount on all cases of fairly traded Equal Exchange chocolates, coffee and teas. Please visit the sales table in the church parish hall after the worship service or call the Missions Board, 508-221-0314.

Kara Dougherty reports that the Minnesingers will present their annual spring concert this weekend.

Bill Haynes of North Tisbury reports that at this year’s town meeting it was voted to make marking property/driveways mandatory in West Tisbury. The fire department will make signs for people for $20 each. You can call Kenny Mastromonaco at 508-693-6008. When someone calls, they should have their street name and number and the map and lot number of their property. The signs should be put at the end of the driveway, high enough that it will not be blocked by snow or bushes. Bill advised me that although I live on State Road, it would not be a bad idea to have one for safety’s sake. He also reported with pride that his grandson, Nathaniel Haynes, and Jacob Oliver (Jessie Oliver’s son) both graduated from the New England Institute of Technology last Sunday. My heartiest congratulations to all.

Amy Hoff over at the library reports that Friday evening at 7 p.m., Paul Thurlow will give a solo piano performance at the library. Saturday at 2:30 p.m. tree lover Tim Boland’s four-part series of talks continues with Small Flowering Trees for Your Landscape. This series is free and open to the public.

Happy birthday to Madeline Tramontano, Jessica Estrella, Skye McDuff and Mary McGuire Friday; Shanti Blum, Lynne Whipple, Sarah Smith and Rebecca Rattner Saturday; Phyllis Meras, Chris Decker, Marc Rivers, David Kish and John Osmers on Sunday; Bruce Smith, Michael McCarthy, Shane Fisher, Catherine Carr, Alison Stearns and Todd Murtha on Monday; Beverly Mazza, Liza Williamson, Julia Carlton, Diane Mello and Daniel Benedetto and on Tuesday; Rufus Peebles, Martha Hubbell, Nicole Galland, Edmund Cottle 3rd and Janice Paul on Wednesday; Susan Hopkins, Kitty Murphy, Bill Eville, Brendan O’Neill and Jason Napior on Thursday. A very happy 32nd wedding anniversary to David and Eleanor Stanwood on Wednesday.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news, please call or email me.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there and have a great week.

Send your West Tisbury news to: alleys@vineyard.net.