Well, the long holiday weekend begins Friday and many people will be coming to town to spend the weekend and/or open their summer homes. It also signals the start of the summer season. Monday is the Memorial Day holiday and there will be a parade and traditional observances down in Vineyard Haven. Town buildings and the post office will be closed.

The swans and baby cygnets on the Mill Pond surely make it feel like summer is on its way. The VTA bus schedule is now providing expanded coverage on the weekend evenings — the late bus to Aquinnah departs from the Grange hall at 11:38 p.m. The everyday schedule goes into effect on June 23.

At the beginning of this holiday weekend let’s not forget what Memorial Day is really all about and take some time out from all our busy activities to remember those who have gone on before us. Brian Athearn, Veteran’s Graves Officer, has placed new American flags on the graves of all the veterans.

Alex Karman, of Albany, N.Y., will be arriving this weekend and plans on hosting a number of his friends at his mother’s house on State Road. This is Alex’s annual retreat and Olympiad.

Charlie Kernick, of Post Office Corner, returned home on Sunday after spending the winter months in North Carolina. His wife will join him the middle of next month. He is looking forward to planting his garden this weekend.

On June 1, 1946 Steve and Barbara Courtleigh and their young son George, of New York city, arrived to spend the summer season in town. Their daugh ter Pat will join them in August. They have rented the winter home of Donald Campbell on Old County Road. The Campbell’s have moved up to their summer home on Basin Road in Menemsha. Steve, an actor, is also the voice of The Shadow on the radio and you can listen the popular mystery program, sponsored by Blue Coal, Sunday nights on WJZ radio. Steve, an avid fisherman, plans to make frequent trips to New York to fulfill his acting obligations. He was recently hired by Lucky Strike cigarettes and was photographed here surf casting on south beach. An advertisement will appear in Life, Colliers and the Saturday Evening Post magazines in a month. They also plan on filming him surfcasting and using it in a television commercial in the near future as a test to see if the emerging new form of entertainment will reach more of their customers. For the record, the first paid advertisement on television was in 1941 and the price was $10, and the product was Bulova watches. Remember the famous line in the commercial; the announcer spells out each letter in B U L O V A and firmly proclaims that America runs on Bulova watch time.

Happy birthday to Ann Nelson and William Stewart Friday; Wendy Turnell and Larry Yorke Saturday; Brenda Hayden and Leon Braithwaite on Sunday; Martha Tohlen, Wenonah Madison and Robin Carberry on Monday; Alan Cottle and Liza Lynch on Tuesday; Peter Hoffman, Barbara Portman and Colin Whyte on Wednesday; Valerie Redanz and Amy Kurth on Thursday; Kevin and Maria McFarland will celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary on Monday. Belated Birthday greetings to Bernadette Smith, Toni Kurasch, Janice Donaroma and Marie Allen.

Well that is all of the social news for this edition. If you have any news please call or email me. Have a safe holiday weekend and a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.