Father’s Day was wonderful, just perfect for outdoor barbecues, beaches and all kinds of surprises. My family treated me well. Son Sam and wife Anna prepared a wonderful barbecue dinner. It is getting busier each day as people continue to arrive for their vacations and the first day of summer was Wednesday. Can you believe it, but starting on Thursday the crunch should be building as some folks will get a head start on the holiday weekend as Independence Day is just a couple weeks away.

The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury’s 29th annual strawberry festival will be held Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. This event kicks off the summer season. All proceeds help support the historic church. The festival will be hosted indoors in the event of inclement weather.

Dick Reische reports that his son Eric and his wife and son from Aspen, Colo. visited his folks last week. Grandpa sure does love it when they come to the Vineyard.

Ellen Weiss, of Old County Road, recently returned to her house for the summer. She is professor emeritus at the Tulane University School of Architecture.

Tanya Larsen, over at the Howes House, reports that the annual art show will be held at the Howes House Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nancy Cabot, group facilitator, promises a varied and exciting show including still life and landscapes. The show also features watercolors and drawings of the members of the Friday painting group. The Howes House (Up Island Council on Aging) is located in West Tisbury center, across from Alley’s Store.

Linda and Chuck Hughes proudly report that their youngest daughter, Anna Hughes, recently graduated from Boston University with a degree in biomedical engineering. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Alpha Eta Mu Beta engineering honor societies.

Jen Wool reports that up at the Blue Barque on South Road, she and Dan Leventritt are over the moon with excitement about the wedding of Emily Licht and Alex Brady Saturday. Alex is very familiar to them as he worked on the renovation of the Barque a few years ago. Everyone is thrilled to have a whole week to celebrate with friends and family as Emily and Alex plan to tie the knot under the big old locust trees on the back lawn.

Kim Bartlett, of Burlington, Vt. is planning to be here visiting Jen Wool for the Fourth of July festivities and would really like to be in the parade this year.

Peggy Stone of the park and recreation Committee reports that beach stickers for Lambert’s Cove will be required tomorrow as lifeguards will be on duty. Stickers can be purchased at the shed at the West Tisbury School daily from 9 a.m. to noon as well as 4 to 7 p.m. on weekends. Call 508-696-0147 with any questions.

On June 28, 1950 a dozen 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 for more than three months to pull the weed from the manmade 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 from the bottom of the pond. When the project was finished the Grange purchased the first pair of swans for the pond. Swans 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: Josh Montoya, Brittney Wells and Madeline Kosse Friday; Peter O. Bettencourt, Ben Moore, Brian Kennedy, Marti Marnier and Kayla Mastromonaco Saturday; David Franklin, James Huckins, Debra Phillips, Eric Johnson, Lori Rezendes and Bess Child on Sunday; Lynn Bouck, Alicia Tonti, Sarah Murphy, Dennis Kaeka, Cybele Sprague McCormick, and Kathy Retmier on Monday; David Steere, Woody Bowman, Jonathan Belain, Ginger Norton and Heidi Spruce on Tuesday; Alvida Jones, Samantha Look, Michelin Ciccone, Colleen O’Donnell and Sam Decker on Wednesday, and Harriet Bernstein, Jack Gray, Ruby Hoy and Myles Thurlow on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Sandy Hicks, Kelley DeBettencourt and Helen Martin.

Well that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news, please call or e-mail me. A triva note: the movie Jaws was released 42 years ago last week my how time flies! Have a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.