The weather last weekend was mixed. Excellent summer-like day on Saturday and mostly rain showers on Sunday. Lots of folks worked outdoors and held backyard barbecues. Tuesday is Flag Day. Linda Alley, also known as the jelly queen, reports that the Farmers’ Market will begin their 42nd summer season Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the Grange Hall. I want to thank Charlie Kernick for pinch hitting at the post office, Alan Gowell and Jesse Oliver at the cemetery.

Anna, Sam, and I went to Rhode Island to attend the celebration of life gathering for family friend Sal Laterra. It was held at the Officers Club at Quonset Point. About a dozen Vineyard friends of Sal’s took the fast ferry and joined about 50 others at the club. It was a fitting tribute to a man that over the years blended in and became a part of us. His brother Joe served as the emcee and his son Jon and daughter Liz and their families got a chance to see and talk with the large number of his friends who attended. A lot of stories and fond remembrances were offered by many of us. Anna and I spent a couple of nights with her sister Nina and husband Dieter at their Providence home and had a swell visit.

Carol and David Christensen recently returned home after a trip to Florida. While there they visited with Alan and Yvonne Lipke of Tampa, who summer in Chilmark. Alan and Yvonne joined Carol and David on their most recent three-week humanitarian mission to Ghana in West Africa where they visited and taught in schools, delivered medical supplies, and supported environmental projects.

Mark and Lisa Cronin and dog Rex, of Los Angeles, Calif., have arrived and are spending the summer at their Plum Bush home. Mark reports that in a couple of weeks his parents John and Ellen will be arriving.

Jeanne and Fred Barron welcomed their newest grandchild, five-month-old Mila Joyce Biroscak, on her first visit to the Island earlier this week. She was accompanied by her parents, Maggie and Jesse, who were married at the Barrons’ home three years ago. They now live in San Francisco.

Ed and Jane Konicki, of Webster, arrived on Monday and are staying at their daughter Lynn’s condo. Ed reports that they had a swell time visiting old friends.

The West Tisbury Library Foundation and 88.7 FM WMVY will present Amy Helm in concert on Sunday, July 24 at the Union Chapel. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45, available at ticketsmv.com, the West Tisbury library, and at the door. Net proceeds benefit the West Tisbury Library Foundation and Friends of mvy radio.

Stickers for Lambert’s Cove Beach go on sale Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the shed at the West Tisbury School. Stickers are $50; walk-on passes are $10. Bring proof of residency or your lease. Basketball and swim lessons begin July 11. For further information call the parks department at 508-696-0147.

Marian Irving reports that if it is mid-June, it is strawberry time in West Tisbury! This will be the 28th annual strawberry festival, held from noon to 4 p.m. on June 18. The annual fund-raising event benefits the historic West Tisbury congregational church.

Happy birthday to: Susie Safford, Anh Ho, Milo D’Antonio, and Trevor Marzbanian Friday; Mary Lu Hough, Minor Knight, Joan Mancuso, Paul Cotton and Stephen Socha Saturday; Kib Bramhall, Jean Wexler, Elaine Weintraub, Leslie Fairbairn, Martha Stackpole and Mike Black on Sunday; Dick Philibosian of Auburn, Anita Botti, Brian Smith, Charlotte McGoldrick and Les Leland on Monday; Bea Amaral, Elaine Pace, Sandra Hakala, Timothy Sweet, Linda Bassett-Benoit and Bill Haynes on Tuesday; Joyce Currier, Cynthia Riggs, Jonathan Eldridge, Jackson Van Raan and Fred Barron on Wednesday; and Mike Diaz, Ruth Campbell, Leslie Baker, and Anne Fischer on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Woollcott and David Smith.

Anniversary greetings to Ed Levine and Vicki Bijur, who will celebrate their special day on Thursday. Belated anniversary greeting to a swell couple, Bob and Ernestine Kinnecom.

Well that is all of the social news for this week’s column. Congratulations to the graduating class at the regional high school and the students at the charter school. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.