JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
The weekend weather was delightful and summer-like. A lot of backyard barbecuing was held all around town and it was wonderful. Business people report that there have been a lot of people around and the traffic is nearly impossible at times; it has definitely been busier than last year. The beaches have been packed each day with the hot weather making this Island a vacation paradise. The weatherman tells us that we are on pace to be one of the warmest Julys on record. We had a lot of thunder and some much-needed rain Monday morning. Traffic came to a standstill last Saturday afternoon around 5 p.m. as two baby deer leisurely crossed Music street and walked casually into the field.
Our daughter Nicole and her son Robbie spent the weekend with us. Nicole’s husband Arsen Hambardozian was here for a couple of days and did some septic inspections. The whole family had dinner at The Grill on Main last Thursday to celebrate Anna’s birthday. Arsen had to get home earlier than he wanted to attend to business projects with his new company. Robbie, Nicole and grandma sure did enjoy the beach, yard sales and long walks with the stroller. Robbie was fascinated with the new people, cars, buses and neighbors.
Dr. C.M. Rosenthal and his daughter, Blake, departed on Monday for their home in Upper Darby, Pa. He teaches at Drexel University and Blake is a student at Harvard. They had dinner with us Sunday evening.
Allan and Francine Kauffman of London, England arrived recently at their home on Plumb Bush Point. Francine reports that they are enjoying the weather and will be here until mid-September.
Jill Carlton and her husband Pete Karman, of New Haven, entertained Peter and Rosella Matt of New York city, at Jill’s State Road home last weekend. Pete says that the phrase “on the rocks” has a double meaning for Peter, who is both a wine importer and a geologist. Rosella teaches Italian at New York University. The two couples met a long time ago when Jill was teaching Italian at Wesleyan University.
Pierce Kirby 3rd of North Tisbury was home several days last week visiting his parents. Pierce has been busy working in London and Russia. He left here to return to Russia via Vienna. He expects to be back for at least a week next month.
Kendall Gifford Miller his wife Carla and children Daniel and Carl of Newark, Ohio arrived last weekend for a vacation. They have been cleaning the yard, planting and selling daylilies, and he continues to improve the property. They plan to return home on Sunday.
John Kelleher, senior deacon, reports that the popular Sundaes on Saturday returns tomorrow from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. over at the First Congregational Church. They will be offering ice cream sundaes with your choice of toppings. All proceeds will benefit the preservation of the historic building.
Lee Revere, chairman of the book sale, reports that the hours for the 55th annual book sale are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, July 27 to 30. The sale will be held in the school gym on Old County Road. They will have a large selection available and will accept donations until Monday morning. All the books not sold over the weekend are free on Monday morning, July 30. For more information, contact the library staff at 508-693-3366.
Ava Plakins and her sister, Naomi, of Doylestown, Pa., spent a long weekend at their house on Middle Road. Joining them were Naomi’s daughter, Xana, and her boyfriend, Peter, of New York city. Ava reports that they enjoyed the weather, beaches and talking with old friends.
Elizabeth Churchill and her three children, Freddy, Bobby and Lucy, are vacationing with her parents, Bob and Barbara Day, of Willow Tree Hollow, for six weeks. The Days’ son, Matthew, and his wife, Tracy, and their three children, Jackson, Garrett and Caroline, just left after a week with them all. The children had a wonderful time playing together.
Antonio Saccoccia, of Waldron’s Bottom Road, owner and head chef of the Grill on Main in Edgartown, has been busy all summer offering quality meals and prix fixe pricing. He has added some new items to his menu and it is well worth the experience to dine out at his place.
Count Peter Ochs and Guderun Walensdorfer, of Vienna, Austria and Aquinnah report that they have begun to pack, anticipating their trip to the Vineyard Sept. 1.
Douglas Peckham will hold his annual art show and sale at his studio/home in Oak Bluffs on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 4 p.m. Featured will be acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography and digitalized photography. Call him at 508 693-1424 for further information.
Elise Green reports that the family of Sandra Fales Hillman is having a gathering at the farm on Middle Road tomorrow from 4:30 to 6 p.m. They welcome all friends to come as you are to remember and honor her mom, who was a swell lady. Rev. Cathlin Baker will lead us in prayers at 5 p.m.
Charlie Kernick of Edgartown Road, a man with many bird feeders in his yard, has noticed the increase of territorial activity at the hummingbird feeders in town this week. Females and males are becoming territorial in protection of their food sources for their southern migration, even though most of us are just settling into summer.
A graveside service will be held at the West Tisbury cemetery for the late John W. Mayhew on July 28 at 4 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. in the Agricultural Hall, followed by a potluck supper and old-fashioned musicale. Bring your instruments! Call or e-mail Shirley for questions at swm@vineyard.net or 508-693-1184.
Suellen Lazarus reports that on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center, author Peter Beinart discusses his book, The Crisis of Zionism, and will have a conversation about Israel’s future with Alan Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard University. The discussion will be moderated by novelist (and West Tisbury resident) Richard North Patterson.
Jennifer Tseng, over at the library, reports that on Thursday at 5 p.m. Phyllis Méras will be talking about her new book, In Every Season: Memories of Martha’s Vineyard, illustrated by the late Thomas H. Cocroft and Robert E. Schwartz. Bob will also be on hand to sign books. Her book has received favorable reviews from the Boston Globe and Cape Cod Times.
Stargazing! Take a tour through the night sky with Lenny Schoenfeld. Learn the constellations and the features of our heavenly dome. Every Monday evening at 9 p.m. at the library (weather permitting) Free! Fun! Fabulous.
Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports that absentee ballots for the primary election have arrived. If you are registered in a political party and know you will not be here on Thursday, Sept. 6 to cast a vote, you may come by town hall from 8:30 to 4 p.m. daily to vote. The last day to register to vote, or to change your party affiliation is August 17 until 8 p.m. Please note this primary election is on a Thursday; polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and rest assured I will remind you again as time draws near! Also, on Tuesday, July 31, at or before 5 p.m. is the deadline for people to turn papers in for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. In horse council news, there is a dressage show tomorrow at the Agricultural Hall.
This week’s history note is from July 30, 1926. Fred Vincent of New Lane suffered fractures and other internal injuries as the result of an accident he had with the car of Miss Letha Martin, of Vineyard Haven, while he was riding his wheel Monday afternoon. Vincent, who was riding home and Martin, traveling in the opposite direction collided where the old dirt road intersects with the state highway. He was taken to the Marine Hospital by Frank Look, who happened on the scene shortly after the accident. His injuries were treated but he will be hospitalized for a while. Fred has had a run of hard luck lately; his house burned to the ground last spring. While moving a building to the foundation of his old house and fitting it for a dwelling, he strained his back and was obliged to stop his work and seek medical treatment. It was while returning home from the doctor and the drug store that he met with the accident that further crippled him. It was thought that because he was suffering pain he did not notice the approaching car. Someone remarked that if it wasn’t for bad luck he would have no luck at all.
Happy birthday to Kara Rosenthal, Laura Wainwright and Pamela Danz today; Laura Campbell, Karen Flynn and Jean Caron tomorrow; Joan Jenkinson and Katie Hart on Sunday; Dan Bradley and Stephen Young on Monday; Jean Francis and Mike Hull on Tuesday; Bob Ogden and Rebeka Shulman on Wednesday and Fran Bradley and Charles Morgan on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Mike Pease and Minor Knight, Bruce Stone and Margaret Rose Hoff. Belated anniversary wishes to Kern and Cheryl Grimes of Waldron’s Bottom Road and Bob and Maggie Schwartz of Music street.
Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s column. A bit of trivia that you can use at the next cocktail party: Seventy-five years ago this week the world’s first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City. If you have any news, please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.
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