It sure has felt like summer. It’s warm and it is crowded everywhere. The activity at the Agricultural Hall is at a fever pitch preparing for the fair. Some college students have just begun to leave as many universities open for the fall semester in two weeks. Before the end of the month a significant amount of summer traffic and visitors will begin to head in the other direction as the summer season slowly begins winding down for another year. Illumination night is on Wednesday, the fair begins on Thursday and the Oak Bluffs fireworks is on Friday A hearty hello and welcome back to President Obama and family, who are vacationing in Chilmark.

The 156th annual agricultural fair begins next Thursday and runs until Sunday evening. They are now accepting entry forms and will until Monday at 5 p.m. You can drop your entry forms in the entry box on the front porch of the hall, mail, or fax them in. There will be some livestock and antique farm equipment on display in their new barn. The woodsman’s contest is now in its 41st year. A full program of events is available at the hall. Also a complete schedule of events is published in the fair booklet. The 17th annual fiber tent exhibition will have demonstrations daily. Andy Rice reports there will be sheep shearing demonstrations daily plus your old favorite spinners, weavers, and knitters. There will be various demonstrations of their talent throughout the fair and animals will be available for viewing each day. The Cushing Carnival will again offer a special price for the rides if you purchase a wristband on Friday night. Eleanor asks that you not bring your dogs as the grounds cannot accommodate them.

The Vineyard Transit Authority for the 17th consecutive year will extend bus service to include the fair on Routes 2, 4, and 6. As an added bonus for riding the bus this year, the Agricultural Society will offer a $1 discount on the purchase of an admission ticket. Be sure and have your hand stamped before exiting the bus to qualify for the discount. A complete bus schedule is posted on the front porch of the hall. Bus service will run hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Sunday the last bus is at 8 p.m. If you choose to bring your automobile there will be two parking lots available: one operated by the Ag Society and the firemen and the other by the Whiting Family.

Judy Randall of Virginia and Elaine Krogus of Brooklyn Heights.were recent house guests of Phyllis Meras. Judy enjoyed dining out, visiting with friends and helped celebrate her brother Jon and Genevieve Randall’s 28th wedding anniversary. Anna Alley, of State Road, returned home on Sunday after spending the weekend with the grandchildren and their parents in East Taunton. All of them will be coming down to visit us for the fair.

Jill Carlton and husband, Pete Karman, of State Road have returned after a brief respite at their Hartford home while son Alex enjoyed a few days of vacation. Alex is working in Albany, N.Y.

Leon and Brenda Brathwaite are hosting a Vineyard conversation with Newton mayor Setti Warren, Democratic candidate for governor, at their house Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. Leon asks you to come listen to his ideas on how to move our state forward and share your concerns and issues.

Marian Irving, of Old County Road, reminds you that the congregational church’s third annual peach festival will be held Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. It is a fundraiser for the church, and like the strawberry and blueberry festivals, it is an outreach to the community and visitors. They will be serving fresh peaches, peach cobbler with ice cream or whipping cream, peach smoothies, parfaits, special iced tea (their own blend of hibiscus and Turkish black tea), and Mad Martha’s own peach ice cream made specially for the occasion. The bake table will feature freshly baked peach pies and peach scones. They also have a peach tree, donated by Mahoney’s and a peach-themed basket for raffle. Bring family and visitors for a special treat.

Olivia Larsen reports there are many events at the library this week. Saturday at 4 p.m., please join them for their annual ice cream social and music by the Vineyard Sound a cappella group. At 6 p.m, writer Jenny Allen will give a talk titled What’s So Funny? She’ll also read from her new book, Would Everybody Please Stop?

On August 22, 2008 Will Monast, the builder and project manager of the Frank Adams house restoration, reported that new dormers were installed and replacement of the sills were nearly complete. He found an empty bottle of Old Reliable Rye whiskey that had to be 100 years old, several containers of red pepper priced at 35 cents each scattered in the attic space and a 1932 New Bedford Standard Times Sunday edition that Mr. Adams used as pipe insulation. He wrapped the pipe with the newspaper and placed a specially constructed wooden box lined with asphalt shingles over it.

Happy birthday to: Chuck Cotnoir, Clare Harrington, Linda Powers and Diana Waring Friday; Sam Stevenson, Eric Turkington, Susan Fieldsmith, Joe Schroeder, and Amelia Smith Saturday; Peter Rodegast, Leslie Sterns, Frank Ferro, Vickie Crowley and Andrew Salzman on Sunday; Bea Whiting, Aaron Myatt, Mark Hutker, Vanessa Czarnecki, Nancy Polucci and Sarah Catchpole on Monday, Bill Hoff, Catherine Fuller and Bob Huebscher on Tuesday, Nick Van Nes and Katherine Long on Wednesday, and Karin Stanley, Kerry Saunier, Chase Sellers, Michelle Myers, and Sarah Murphy on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Colleen Morris and Rosemarie Doane. Belated anniversary greetings to Kristi and Barry Zonfrelli, Marni O’Brien, and Charley Hoffshire.

That’s all the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news please call or email me. See you at the fair.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.