JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
The holiday weekend weather was absolutely delightful. Many outdoor activities and cookouts took place. The rhododendrons at the old Foote tennis court (the only clay court remaining in town) were absolutely beautiful this past weekend. Bunny Fales would have been so proud of them.
The first weekend of summer brought thousands of visitors, as was evident by the long lines at the grocery stores in town and increased automobile traffic, up 15 per cent according to an Authority official. Indeed, the boats were very busy all day Monday as people were leaving after a fantastic weekend.
Andrea Rogers reports that the twoday Artisan’s Show at the Grange Hall was a huge success. Fiddlehead Farm opened last Thursday in North Tisbury, so now all of the businesses are open for the season in that section of town.
Sisters Naomi and Ava Plakins, of Bucks County, Pa., were pleased to welcome their respective children, Rebecca O’Neill, Emily and Julia Berk this week. Becky just finished her first year of law school at Rutgers University, in Camden, where she achieved dean’s list and honor roll. Emily just graduated with a B.S. in computer science from the University of Maryland, where she was a College Park Scholar. In August she will start working at Intuit in Mountain View, Calif. Ava’s younger daughter, Julia, just completed her sophomore year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is majoring in chemistry. She is very pleased to have received her Brass Rat, the college ring awarded halfway through a student’s time at the school. Other family news includes the December 2011 graduation of Dora Thornton, daughter of the third Plakins sister, Tamara, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in anthropology. Older sister Lydia continues her studies at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, and is considering a semester abroad in Galway, Ireland. Ava’s newest addition to her family is Rollo, a little rescue dog brought from a puppy mill in Missouri about a month ago. He is a two-and-a-half-year-old small poodle, and she reports that he so loves the Vineyard.
Kevin Wojcik and Lynn Dolan opened up their house in Vineyard Meadow Farms for the season this past weekend. As usual, Kevin will be hosting his annual reunion of old UConn friends this weekend. Guests will be coming from far and wide this year. Mark “The Animal” Doherty will be jetting in from Chicago, and Ed “Cool Baby” Machuga will be arriving on the heels of a two-week European holiday. Not in attendance this year will be Author Tom Casola of Bucks County, Pa., citing the need to attend a company function in the Bahamas. Such a weak excuse has caused the rest of the group to take the extraordinary measure of scheduling a meeting of the disciplinary committee for Saturday at 10 a.m. to determine the appropriate penalty. Aside from this arguably unpleasant task, the group expects to spend the rest of the weekend, like always, enjoying fine wine, good food, expensive cigars and most important, each other’s company.
Alex Karman, of New York city, hosted a gang of friends at his mother’s house on State Road. They really appreciated the wonderful weather. Present were Michelle and Saul Farber and their son Maxwell of Boston, John Kuefner and his fiancée Christina, Katie and Rick Reilly and their son Collin, and Tomasz Eliasinski. They had an adventurous bicycle ride around the Island, a cookout and many trips to the playground and the beach. They all returned home on Monday.
Martha Tack of Waldron’s Bottom Road and Alexandria, Va. arrived at her place last Saturday. Martha reports that they plan to stay her for six months and they are looking forward to a relaxing time. She expects her children will arrive for several visits this summer. Her husband Carl will be arriving back from Dubai shortly.
As of last weekend Richard and Diana Reische, of Wilton, Conn. and Runner Road, have returned to their residence for most of the summer. They expect to have several visits from family and friends.
Dan and Robin Moriaty, of Cambridge, were at their summer home on Sweet William Way last weekend. They both were kept busy with yard work as they prepare to open the place for the season.
Ben and Paddy Moore, of Alley Way, returned home last Sunday after a trip to the West Coast visiting family. Ben reports that they had a wonderful time
The Rev. David Christensen, of Edgartown Road, reports that he and his wife Carol just returned from their most recent, and 14th, visit to Ghana. The team they lead dedicated a library in memory of their cousin, Dr. Robert D. Everson, at the Mawuko Girls High School and celebrated the completion of numerous water projects in the Volta Region.
There will be a special town meeting of 10 articles on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the school gym. Several of the items deal with dogs, leashes and funding of an animal control officer for Lambert’s Cove Beach. An article seeking $46,000 to resurface the library and Howes House parking lot failed to gain approval of the finance committee. All of this should make for an eventful evening. Print out your own copy of the warrant, as it is posted on the town Web site.
Jennifer Tseng, over at the library, reports that the art work of Alida O’Loughlin will be on display at the West Tisbury Library for the month of June. A reception will be held this afternoon at 4 p.m. On Tuesday at 5 p.m. West Tisbury’s new poet laureate, Justen Ahren, will read with Rebecca Morgan Frank to help celebrate the publication of Frank’s new book, Little Murders Everywhere (Salmon Poetry 2012). Refreshments will be served.
The Park and Recreation Committee reports that beach stickers will be available starting Saturday, June 16, everyday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the tennis shed at the school on Old County Road. The hours on weekdays are 9 a.m. till noon, and on weekends from 4 to 7 p.m. The beach opens for the season on June 23.
Mark this event on your calendar today: the First Congregational Church’s 24th annual Strawberry Festival will be held on June 23 between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. Enjoy the native berries on shortcake with whipped cream, or berries with ice cream, or berry smoothies. Tables will be set up on the lawn. Proceeds from this popular event provide funding for the continuing maintenance of the historic building and grounds.
Happy Birthday to Eric Magnuson and Chaya Thanhauser today; Linda Alley and Tracy Scanlan tomorrow; Emily Pires, Jenifer Alameda, Sian Williams, Bill Blakesley and Casey Decker on Sunday; Stephanie Brothers, Lisa Kimball, Deborah Dennis, George Hartman and Debra Yapp on Monday; Dale Julier, Mona Rosenthal, Margie Meltzer and Jean Powers on Tuesday; Mary French, Ernie Barrett, Dorothy Gregory, Hildy Mitchell, Mike Faraca and Lee Faraca on Wednesday; Steve Berlucchi, Andrea Hartman, Cheryl Grimes and Barbara Frankel on Thursday. Anniversary wishes to Dan and Dorothy Whiting today and Tony Silva and Dianne McDonough on Monday. Roger and Gloria Sylva celebrate their 44th on Thursday.
Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. Sunday is the 68th anniversary of D-Day. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.
Comments
Comment policy »