The weather Sunday was just delightful. The school, firehouse and town playgrounds were busy. Activity will pick up even more in this town in advance of the fair. Hundreds of cars attended the farmers market and/or library book sale on Saturday.

The 156th annual Agricultural Fair begins the 17th of August and runs until Sunday evening. The theme of the fair this year is See Ewe. The fair poster this year was drawn by Kate Wignall. Fair books are available at the Agricultural Hall office on Panhandle Road, which has been open since Monday when preparations for the fair began in earnest. If anyone wants to volunteer stop by the hall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eleanor Neubert, fair manager, wants to remind each exhibitor of the policy regarding entry forms. All entry forms must be turned in to the staff by Monday, August 14 at 5 p.m.. This policy has increased efficiency and eliminated the line of people waiting on Wednesday afternoon. The fair book gives a complete schedule of events, plus details on all the categories, should you be planning to enter an exhibit, and the necessary forms.

The Vineyard Transit Authority, again this year, will be extending bus service to the fair. These days it may the most economical and efficient way for you to get there. A complete bus schedule will be posted on the front porch of the hall or call the VTA at 508-693-9440.

John and Goldie Siffert, of New York city and Edgartown Road, arrived last week to spend the month of August at their home named God’s Pocket. His sister Joan arrived on Wednesday for a visit. John is looking forward to a month of rest and relaxation.

Jean O’Reilly and her daughter Molly, of Dublin, Ohio, have been visiting Flat Point Farm and family for most of last month. Molly returned home last Wednesday to help her dad, Tim with his candy business. They enjoyed the beach, the Sheriff’s Meadow benefit dinner, and visiting their family. Their son Andrew arrived yesterday for a vacation and they will return to their home later this month.

Bruce Blackwell, of Gainsville, Fla., arrived on Monday to visit his many friends. There will be a memorial service for his partner, Brandy Wight, on Tuesday, August 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Granary Gallery. They owned the Granary for many years and made it a popular business place.

Sarah Morgan, of Hanover, N.H. visited us last week. The primary focus of her visit was to see her son and watch him and the Vineyard Sound perform at the Tabernacle. Sarah found time to have coffee with regulars on the front porch of Alley’s Store Sunday morning. She looks forward to returning later in the month.

Bill Earle of Tampa, Fla., a former employee of the old Alleys’ Store, and his significant other, Lentyn, stopped by to say hello and recall old times at the store. They are having a wonderful time beaching and swimming.

Margot Datz will be having a reception for her art show, Margot in Wonderland, Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Grange Hall. She has had art shows in there for several years.

Sig Van Raan just returned home from a brief four-day trip to Havana, Cuba, where he met with the production staff and cast for his play The Babylonian Talmud, which will be performed in Havana in late September. This week Fernando Saez and Daile Carrazana (co-founders and directors of Malpaso Dance) will be staying with Sig and Susan while their group is performing at The Yard. Fernando is also producing Sig’s play in Havana. Aside from their riveting dance performances, Fernando is looking forward to a fishing trip and playing in the Chilmark softball game.

Susan Dickler performed as a reader at the MV Playhouse this week. She portrayed a middle-aged, slightly neurotic Jewish mother whose son who is a news reporter who has been captured by the Taliban. Sig’s daughter, Sofia, visited last weekend with her friends from New York: Chris Perrna, Reid Myers, and Caroline Dolman. Sofia has just been appointed marketing Manager at UNICEF USA, the fundraising arm for UNICEF. Her group just secured a multimillion dollar grant from Beyonce’s philanthropic foundation to establish solar well pumps and clean water in Burundi.

Olivia Larsen, over at the library, reports that Saturday from 4 to 5 p.m., please join them for a reception in honor of Albert Alcalay and Tommaso Bertini’s art exhibitions. Throughout the month of August, Albert’s work will be displayed in the community room and Bertini’s work will be displayed on the library’s upper and lower levels.

With all the controversy surrounding vitally important social programs, a timely trivia item at your next party is: August 14 marks the 82nd anniversary of the Social Security Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many of the negative things said about it are strikingly similar to what has been said of the Affordable Care Act.

Happy birthday to: John Pavlik, Barack Obama and Kristen Kinsler Friday; Janet Alley, John Kelleher and Lynn Gale Saturday; Mary Donlavey, Patricia Cliggott, Donna Diaz and Colleen Barnett on Sunday; Martha Moore, Elizabeth Goodell and Tonya Leonard on Mondayl Helen Brown, Debbie Brew, Ken Childs, Marcia Klepper-Smith, Tom Hodgson and Nettie Kent on Tuesday; Claire Gray and Kim O’Connor on Wednesday; and Anne Colangeli, Jim Prichard, and Erik Lowe on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Goodie Stiller and anniversary wishes to Ed and Holly Eger and George and Andrea Hartman Saturday, Rosemary and Nick Van Nes on Tuesday and Jon and Genevieve Randall celebrate their 28th on Sunday. Bob and Anne Ganz celebrated their 54th last week.

Well that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news please e-mail or call me. Have a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.