JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Saturday it rained long and hard enough to float an ark. We received at least three inches and the ground was saturated. We have received more than 14 inches of rain since Jan. 1, more than double last year’s amount. We also experienced strong winds, with gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour and a power outage to part of town and all of Up-Island that lasted more than three hours because a large tree came down across the power lines at Brandy Brow. Fortunately it was warm and the fireplace took care of the chill. People are slowly adjusting to daylight saving time.

The snowdrops are in full bloom at the Betty Knox house and in other yards around town. Everyone is looking forward to the first day of spring next Thursday. The lambing season has begun. Bea Whiting reports that twin lambs were born at the farm last week and several new lambs have now joined them in the barn.

Easter Week is upon us. It starts on Sunday with Palm Sunday service at 10 a.m. over at the Congregational Church. Florists and garden centers will be displaying new spring plants in the afternoon. Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the church. Next Sunday is Easter. A sunrise service will be held at Peaked Hill at 6 a.m. and two church services at 9 and 11 a.m.

Warren and Marilyn Hollingshead of Pond View Farm Road returned home on Thursday after their annual six-week vacation on Punta Gordia Island. Warren reports that they had a wonderful time.

Rez Williams and his wife Lucy Mitchell of Edgartown Road returned home last week from a two-week vacation in New York city. Rez reports that they visited several museums and took a break from the winter doldrums.  

Last Friday night, about one hundred people gathered at the home of Bob and Barbara Day of Willow Tree Hollow to attend a reception for candidates running for political offices this year: Richard Knabel for selectman, and Cynthia Riggs and Greg Orcutt, who are running for seats on the board of library trustees.

In a related development, Cynthia invited the voters in town to the Cleaveland House on March 27 from 7 p.m. till midnight for a New Orleans jazz event she is sponsoring. All of the candidates running for library trustee and other political offices are invited. Paul Garcia, who was the fifth candidate, for library trustee, withdrew from the race last week. It will be hard to top Cynthia’s Groundhog Day bash, but it’s a great way to welcome spring and the thick of our political season.

Richard and Lydia Olsen of State Road have spent the last three weeks touring America in their recreational vehicle. Their son, Keith, reports that they have visited at least twenty states and are having a swell time. They are expected home Sunday night no doubt with many stories to tell about their adventures.

In this month’s edition of the Egg Harbor Owners Association newsletter, there is a lengthy article on Cynthia Riggs and her boat, Victorious, that is berthed in her yard and on the extensive restoration work that was done on it last summer. Cynthia tells of the difficulty getting here, about converting it to a writing gallery, and of the launch-ing party held last September.

Election warden Muriel Bye wants to let you know that we are fast approaching the annual town meeting on April 8 and town elections on April 10. The elections will be held at the Public Safety Building, also known as the fire station, opposite Conroy’s Apothecary. The polls will be open from noon until 8 p.m. Contested races for selectman and library trustee highlight the ballot. The last day to register to vote in the annual meeting or election is next Wednesday.

Paul Karasik of Road to Great Neck will be in New York city today signing books at Jim Hanley’s Universe from 5 to 7 p.m. On Saturday he will be holding a workshop on Comics Deconstruction at SPLAT: the Graphic Novel Symposium. Recently he has had some of his cartoon work published in the New Yorker magazine.

Debbie Magnuson of State Road wants everyone to remember to buy daffodils for the American Cancer Society next Wednesday at Alley’s Store at 9 a.m. and in front of Fella’s at 1 p.m. Every donation helps people all across New England and is greatly appreciated.

Library director Beth Kramer wants to inform you that there will be some remodeling work going on at the library next week. The children’s area downstairs will close starting Monday for about two weeks. She will be working extra hard over the weekend so that any inconvenience you may have is minimal.

On a personal note: I lost my best friend, Sampson, a wonderful black puppy dog last week. He was hit by a car and didn’t make it. I never realized how much one could become so attached to a pet. Unfortunately, now I do. He would retrieve the newspaper every morning for me. Now the short walk to my driveway is filled with memories and is very depressing.

On March 17, 1947 the Grange held a St. Patrick’s Day party at the agricultural hall. Upstairs was decorated with shamrocks and other green banners. More than 50 members were in attendance and several of the local musicians — Everett Whiting, Mike and Leonard Athearn, Ernest Correllus and Elmer Silva — gathered to play and sing Irish tunes. George Magnuson sang several Irish solos and received several standing ovations. He brought the house down with his rendition of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. A grand time was had by all. Refreshments and Irish mints were served by his wife, Lillian, and Alma Benson.

Happy birthday to Wendy Marzbanian and Benjamin Post today; Edmund Cottle, Peter Fisher, Dr. Jay Segel and Tamara Hersh tomorrow; Todd McGee, Geraldine Roddy and Jemima James on Sunday; Maureen Hitchings, Patricia Sheehan and Bill Wilcox on Monday; Bob Douglas, Patricia McCarthy, Jake Merrill, Sam Hurd and Chuck Schmidt on Tuesday; Patrick Jenkinson, Shelly Brown and Joanne Roddy on Wednesday; and John Bartkus, Arthur Eakin, Linda Hughes, Betsy MacDonald and Maria Moody on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Leslei Monast.

Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. Please call or e-mail me with your news. I trust you will not forget to wear something green on Monday. After the traditional dinner of corned beef, cabbage and soda bread be sure and watch the 1944 Oscar-winning film Going My Way with Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. I would like to close this week’s column with an old Irish blessing: May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody.