JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Well, it sure has been quiet in town. There has not been any skating activity this winter, nor do I recommend any, because of the relatively mild weather. Our weather was bright and sunny but a bit on the cool side this past weekend. It sure ended in the worst way with the Patriots’ crushing loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl. Business at Chilmark Chocolates has been brisk since they opened last week. So you guys be sure to remember the wife or sweetheart with candy and flowers on Tuesday.
Jill Lane reports that tonight at 7 p.m. the popular Friday Night Coffee House returns to the school cafeteria. Please bring a dessert to share with others. Any questions, please call Jeremy Berlin at 508-696-3007.
Rufus Peebles, chairman and keeper of the togas, wants to remind all registered Democrats that the town Democratic Committee meets tomorrow to reorganize and select three delegates and alternates to the state convention in June. The meeting will be held at the Howes House at 11 a.m. If you have questions, call him at 508-693-5100.
Paul Karasik, of Head of the Pond Road, returned last week from the comics’ festival in Angoulâme, France, where he taught at the masters program and stayed for the International Comics Festival. Although his family lived in Italy for only a short time, he considers himself an absolute authority on all things Florentine. He finds that amazing, given the fact that the only words in Italian o f which he is certain are “cappuccino” and “ciao.” He says his personal suave brand of bon vivant American-style fit right in with his students’ continental hipness.
Anna Alley of State Road went up to East Taunton last weekend to visit her grandson Robert John and the baby’s parents, Arsen and Nicole.
Doug Dias passed away recently in Falmouth. Doug and I, for a time, were in the same high school class. He wasn’t afraid to tackle any problem and stuck with it until it was resolved. He, without a doubt, made the best pickled onions I have ever tasted. My sincere condolences to his family.
Marcy Klapper proudly reports that she is a Grandma! Spencer Binney, son of Laury and Marcy, and Elizabeth Kent, daughter of Doug Kent and Leslie Eaton, are the parents of a bouncing baby boy born last Tuesday at 2 a.m. His name is Levi Walker Binney, Congratulations!
The political season has begun. Candidates so far are those seeking re-election. The deadline to take out papers to run for office closed on Tuesday. Whether or not any citizens’ petitions will be filed is not yet certain. Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports that she has absentee ballots in her office for the March 6 primary. You may come to vote in town hall, or she will mail them out if requested. Call with any questions at 696-0148. Also, please remember that census forms are NOT the correct way either to register to vote or change your party preference. If you add a member of the household who wants to become a voter, they must come in and fill out a voter registration form. The same applies if you want to change your political party affiliation.
Cherilla Brown, of Buttonwood Farm Road, and Rhonda Backus, manager of Alley’s Store, returned home on Saturday from the International Gift Show in New York city. She reports that they worked hard and had a nice time.
Tuesday marked the 41st anniversary of the nomination of pitching legend, Satchel Page, to the Hall of Fame. He was the first veteran so honored from the old Negro League. Satch was also well-known for his sense of humor and observations on life, including: “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you” and “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
On Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard will be hosting its very first open house. The open house is to celebrate the shelter’s new standing as a not-for-profit organization and to say thanks for all of the community support it has received, introduce the staff, board of directors and pets.
The shelter has found homes for more than 300 dogs, cats, guinea pigs, bunnies and other Island pets. Visit them at their Edgartown headquarters, say hello to old friends and make some new ones. For more information about the open house or if you’re interested in helping at the Animal Shelter, call 508-627-8662.
Beth Kramer, over at the library, reports that the Virginia Carmichael talk has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 6 at 5 p.m. She will be speaking about her new book, The Albatross and the Fish.
Lynn Ditchfield, of Adult Community Education of the Vineyard (ACEMV), reports that a Cooking Through Cultures — Brazilian & Portuguese Cooking course with Elton Nascimento, of Old Courthouse Road — will take place on Thursday at the regional school. Learn how he prepares bacalhau, a dish made with salted cod that has its roots in both Portuguese and Brazilian cuisine. This is cosponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and ACEMV. I also want you to know Lynn has a wide variety of courses she is offering this week. So give her a call at 774-310-1131 or leave voice mail 508-693-1033, ext. 240 for the class, location and exact time.
On this day in 1942 Congress moved ahead standard time in the United States by one hour in each time zone, imposing daylight saving time—and called it war time. The idea was suggested by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a means to conserve fuel. Its origin could be traced back to temporary World War I legislation that would allow farmers more time to harvest their crops.
On Feb. 16, 1945, Bert Cahoon, Daniel Manter and Albion Alley received letters of thanks and commendation from Lieut. Commander Norman G. Asbury, officer-in-charge of the Naval Auxiliary Air Station for the immediate and timely aid they rendered to a pilot of a plane forced down on the Orlin Davis property on Middle Road in Chilmark. This aid “was of immeasurable help in the prevention of shock and exposure to the pilot and will shorten his period of recovery.” Albion, Chief of the Guards at the NAAS, and Bert, a former officer in the Coast Guard, who now is the operator of Donaldson’s Garage, were on their way back home from finishing an assignment at the Peaked Hill military installation and witnessed the crash in a field near the road. Over 60 years later, Everett Poole of Chilmark notified this correspondent that he has hanging in his garage the actual propeller from the aircraft.
Happy birthday to: Brook Zern, Mabelle Medowski Catherine Minkiewicz, Kathleen Tackabury and Jeremy Hopwood today; Bev Bergeron, Debbie Otto, Deirdre Ling, Jennifer Marcus and Anne Parker tomorrow; Elton Do Nascimento, Ken Kram, Malcolm Young, Brad Tucker, Colleen Campbell, Sandra Caruso, Sandra Polleys, Dave Pritchard, and Jill Amado on Sunday; Stephen Elrick, Martha Bischoff and Gayle Stiller on Monday; Michelle McCormick, Kevin Peter, Jr., Chris Morse, Susan Pacheco, Laurie Huff, Chris Morse and Beth Toomey on Tuesday; Karen Child, Suzanne Fenn, Kimberly Heath, Carina Koury-Jones, and Elizabeth Ferry on Wednesday; Dan Gouldrup, Kathleen Kaempfert, Don MacDonald, Meg Higgins, Diana Reilly and Nancy Cox on Thursday. Just 36 years ago Tuesday, Tim and Eileen Maley were married in the Field Gallery.
Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. I want to wish all of the ladies a Happy Valentine’s Day. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.
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