JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
Well, the weekend weather was sort of a mixed bag — some rain, lots of humidity and a fair amount of sunshine. July turned out to be the second warmest month in the last decade. Regrettably, we have passed the peak of the summer season as some college students will begin leaving to return to school by next weekend. Next weekend is sales tax-free and a perfect opportunity to do some shopping, especially for back to school stuff.
It has been a very busy month at the Coslov house on Deep Bottom Pond. All three of their children and partners, five grandchildren and one granddog have been to visit. The icing on the cake, as Lynda describes it, was the engagement of their youngest son, Jesse, to Elizabeth Gordon in mid-July. He popped the question just after a bike ride from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown and lunch at the Seafood Shanty. The Coslov and Gordon families, both of Pittsburgh, are very happy.
Pete Karman of State Road reports that he was late coming down this season due to his triple bypass operation on May 9. After some complications, Pete is healing well and showing the new zipper on his chest to anyone who will look. He said that he now refers to his wife as Nurse Jill. Last year he was a frequent guest on Will Monast’s weekly radio show down in Vineyard Haven. He enjoyed taking part in the show and sharing his music. They plan to stay until mid-September.
Ed and Jane Konicki of Webster visited with us last week. They report having a swell time meeting up with old and new friends. They were especially helpful around the house. Ed repaired the cellar door and installed a new flag holder. Jane cleaned out a portion of the garage, stacking wood, gardening and going to the beach in the hot weather. We look forward to a return visit in the fall.
Phyllis Meras’s house guest last week was Judy Randall. She also came to help her brother Jon and his wife, Genevieve, celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary. They were married at Ward Just’s home in Lambert’s Cove.
Whitney Brush and his fiancee, Emily Hall, cooked out on the grill last night for their families. They plan to be married later this month. Her dad Malcolm and her brother Houston left today to spend the weekend on Block Island.
Charlie Kernick of Edgartown Road reports that his wife, Stevie, is in residence and plans to be with him for a few days. He says that the sunsets will be much more meaningful now that she is here.
Susan Dickler of Music street reports that her husband Sig Van Rann’s daughter, Zoe, and her partner, Maxine Sanchez of Santa Fe, N.M., are arriving today to be married in a civil ceremony tomorrow. At a dinner party last summer they announced their engagement and plans to have a wedding this summer here on the Vineyard. A celebration of the joyous event will take place shortly thereafter. Emily Hoppe, Susan’s daughter, and her husband, Mike Levin of Baltimore, Md., Zoe’s daughter, Zaya, and many other folks are coming to join in the celebration. Congratulations!
Diane Smith up at Massachusetts General Hospital emailed me to let me know that her co-worker, recipient of many awards and world-renowned MGH nurse practitioner Jill Nelson Burke is on the Vineyard with her husband. They were married here a few years ago and have returned to enjoy themselves and rediscover the place.
Paul Levine of Fieldview Lane assembled an outstanding program, The World of Troubadours and Trobairitz, at the Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven last Sunday. It was nearly a sell-out.
The 152nd Annual Agricultural Fair begins a week from next Thursday, August 16, and runs until Sunday evening. The theme of the fair this year is Display with Pride. Fair books are available at the Agricultural Hall office on Panhandle Road. The hall has been open since Monday as preparations for the fair began in earnest. Eleanor Neubert, fair manager, wants to remind each exhibitor of the policy regarding entry forms. All entry forms must be turned in to the staff by Monday, August 15 at 5 p.m. This policy has increased efficiency and eliminated the long lines of people waiting on Wednesday afternoon. The fair book gives a complete schedule of events, plus details on all the categories should you be planning to enter an exhibit, and the necessary forms. At the 13th Annual Fiber Tent exhibition there will be sheep shearing each day, as well as demonstrations of weaving and spinning.
The Vineyard Transit Authority will again be extending bus service to the fair. These days it may be the most economical and efficient way for you to get there. A complete bus schedule will be posted on the front porch of the hall, or call the VTA at 508-693-9440.
Paul Karasik reports that his wife, Marsha Winsryg, will be holding an African craft sale on Tuesday from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. at the Grange Hall. Jewelry, baskets, fabrics, carvings, beach bags crocheted from recycled plastic bags made by the Zambian Women’s Co-Op will be for sale. For more information call 508 693-4059.
Margo Datz reports that she is excited to have a show on August 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Grange Hall. The show consists of 12 paintings about love and the heart, with short writings accompanying them. The show is sure to be a love-in so bring your beloveds and your hearts! She will also have limited edition prints and books for sale.
On Monday at 7:30 p.m. the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society and the West Tisbury Library present a reading by poets Jorie Graham and Fanny Howe at the film center in Vineyard Haven at the Tisbury Marketplace. Champagne and cupcakes will be served. Admission is $15 or $10 for members.
Nancy Shaw Cramer of Music street reports that there will be an artist talk on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Shaw Cramer Gallery in Vineyard Haven. Laurene Krasny Brown will share her artist in residence experience in Marnay Sur Seine, France.
Anna Carringer of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, is bringing back a rarely-seen historic documentary, This Is Our Island, produced by Katharine Cornell and Nancy Hamilton in 1970. It will be shown at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center on Tuesday beginning at 7:30 p.m. The film includes historic video footage of the Island that was last shown publicly in August of 1980. The film shows historic scenes and events, including the consecration of the Civil War Memorial in Oak Bluffs and the U.S.S. Constitution passing Vineyard Sound. The documentary also includes silent films collected from home movies donated by 32 Islanders. Tom Dunlop, who is currently working on a project for the Gazette identifying and overseeing the conservation of old Island movies, will provide an introduction and background on the film and follow it with a question and answer session.
Suellen Lazarus, festival founder, reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival will be held this weekend, and for the first time will be two days long and hosted at two locations. Tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the festival will be at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown. On Sunday the festival moves up-Island to the grounds of the Chilmark Community Center where the authors will speak in three different tents. The program will run from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The complete schedule is at mvbookfestival.com. All events are free. All of the books featured in the festival are available for sale and authors will be signing their books following their speaking times. Food and beverages are available throughout the day at both locations.
Happy birthday to Catherine Kelly, Dick Goodell and Lauren Giglio today; Nancy Gardella, Carole Hunter, Joel Weintraub, Laura Silber and Tessa Permar tomorrow; Judy Hall, Ben Smith, Tricia Bergeron, Janet Alley, John Pavlik and Kristen Kinsler on Sunday; John Kelleher, Jill Hansen and Lynn Gale on Monday; Mary Donlavey, Patricia Cliggott, Donna Diaz and Colleen Barnett on Tuesday; Martha Moore, Elizabeth Goodell and Tonya Leonard on Wednesday; Helen Brown, Debbie Brew, Ken Child, Tom Hodgson and Nettie Kent on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Goodie Stiller and anniversary wishes to Ed and Holly Eger. Happy anniversary to George and Andrea Hartman on Wednesday, Jon and Genevieve Randall today and belated birthday greetings to Margaret Rose Hoff.
Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news please e-mail or call me. Have a great week.
Comments
Comment policy »