Welcome to summer! Traffic is heavy everywhere, and the traffic jams downtown are unbelievable. Even over at the landfill it is bad.

About seventy people attended a night before the Fourth of July party at their home of Wollcott and Leah Smith in Tiah’s Cove Wednesday evening.

Linda Alley, of New Lane, reports that tomorrow morning the Farmer’s Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate all their holiday customers.

Jill Carlton and her husband Pete Karman, of New Haven, Conn., arrived earlier in the week to spend the summer at their State Road home.

Clifton Athearn, of Edgartown Road, celebrated his 96th birthday at a family dinner party at the Kernick house Monday evening. He was treated to a special dinner at the Lambert’s Cove Inn Friday night.

Sig Van Raan, of Music street, reports that they were away last weekend in Baltimore for four days visiting his wife Susan’s daughter and husband and grandson. Sig spent a day in the Washington area having lunch with an old high school friend and meeting with a theatrical producer to discuss mutual projects. They will have family, his daughter Sofia as well as Willie and Mike and the little one, for the long July 4th holiday weekend. He also gives us the latest on a family drama: their cat Frieda returned home after a two-night disappearance. Her brother Diego spent two days sitting by the back window, so the two have been gratefully reunited.

Anna Alley reports that the First Congregational Church annual Blueberry Festival will be on Saturday, July 20 from noon till 4 p.m. Enjoy blueberry treats at tables and chairs on the front lawn.

Last weekend was busy in town with the art show opening receptions. The crowd in town on Sunday afternoon at Allen Whiting’s annual art show and opening was robust despite the rain. Thunder and lighting launched the summer season at the Davis House Gallery, now open Thursday through Sunday from 1 till 6 p.m. through Labor Day. The Granary Gallery, on Old County Road, began its 66th summer a couple of weeks ago.

My old friend Brook Zern passed away recently. He was the overseer of their daily mail. He was proud of his recognition by the Spanish government, who bestowed upon him the title of Sir Brook Zern. My condolences to his wife Kristen and daughters Jen and Francesca.

Over at the library, Olivia Larsen reports that they are brimming with activities this week. A few tidbits: tomorrow from 3:30 to 5 p.m., an art reception honors the work of Elizabeth Langer. On Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., Healthy Aging MV presents an advance care planning workshop with information about end-of-life and serious illness care. Sign up ahead by emailing hbellebuono@mvcommunityservices.com.

On Wednesday at 7pm, the library will host a screening of A Painter Who Farms, followed by a Q&A with Allen Whiting, the artist, farmer and subject of the film.

On July 8, 1946 Mrs. Arthur Doane and her daughter Muriel, of Melrose, joined her son Bob at the old family home, the former Luce place, on Edgartown Road for the season. Bob worked that summer at the Community Market in Chilmark owned and operated by Rex Weeks.

Happy birthday to: Danny Whiting, Shawn Barber, Peter Luskin and Cherrilla Brown today; David McCullough, Emma Bryant, Jody Mendez and Terry Cutler tomorrow; Adam Bresnick, Barbara Puciul-Hoy and Phil DaRosa on Sunday; John Karalekas, Jack Mayhew, Sheryl Enos and Emma Young on Monday; Devin Church, Jason Neago, Skipper Manter and Laura Turney on Tuesday; David Merry, Joy Robinson Lynch, Rez Williams, Paul Wilkins and Sandy Fisher on Wednesday; Mike Colaneri, Nancy Salon, Andrew Woodruff, Dennis White and Julie Moon on Thursday. Belated Birthday wishes to the honorable Dudley Eppel and Bruce Stone.

That’s all of the social news for this edition. A piece of useless trivia for your next cocktail party: Spam was available at your local grocery store 79 years ago Wednesday — the kind you eat, not the useless material you find mixed in with your e-mail.

Please call or e-mail me with your news. Have a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.