JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

We had our first significant snowfall of the year on Sunday. When we awoke Monday morning, we had about 6 inches or more to shovel. The early morning landscape and smoke from nearby chimneys resembled a Currier and Ives painting. It sure is quiet in town. The Parsonage Pond had enough ice for skating activities last weekend. Kids even were skating in the blinding snowstorm.

` The line at the Up-Island gas station was long most of Sunday with people taking advantage of the special price of fuel.

While waiting in line to fill up your car or truck, you could see what hundreds of hours of excellent work by Dave Fitzpatrick, Patti Kuehn and others on the old Campbell house across from the gas station has done to transform the old house and its landscaping into work worthy of a feature story in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The only downside is the sign reading, For Sale, posted on the front lawn.

Judy Hall of Pond Road and Oklahoma City reports that her husband, Malcolm, has been busy planning their vegetable garden and has started growing plants indoors in their Oklahoma City home to bring to the Vineyard. He is growing two different types of okra plants this year so he can transplant them immediately upon arrival.

I have been remiss in not informing you earlier that Peter Bettencourt, the unofficial mayor of Edgartown, and his wife Priscilla have moved to town and are living near what we call fake lake in the Rosebeck subdivision. Priscilla reports that she enjoys the area and it is so peaceful. They both worked in the Edgartown town hall for years. A belated welcome to town.

Don’t forget to attend Cynthia Riggs’ Groundhog Day party tomorrow night from 5 till 7 p.m. at the Cleaveland House on Edgartown Road. It is an open house and a great chance to socialize with your neighbors, make new friends, catch up with the latest political happenings around town and experience an enjoyable evening along with lots of fine food and adult beverages.

Matt Klinker and Dawn Hamilton of Kensington, N.H., were united in marriage last Saturday afternoon. It was an outdoor wedding with family members present. They both are pilots for Continental Airlines.

Gloria Sylva over at the school reports that next Tuesday they will be celebrating Mardi Gras with beads and Kings and Queens cake at lunch time. That same evening the Parent Teacher Organization will be holding a meeting at the house of Cynthia Bermudes‚ and next Thursday is Chinese New Year. It is the year of the rat.

Library director Beth Kramer reports that they have received notice last Tuesday from the National Passport Agency that the Two-Parent Consent Law has been changed. Effective today, all children under the age of 16 will require the consent of both parents if they appear on the birth certificate. All passports processed up till that time will be done under the previous standard set by the federal government.

Fred and Jeanne Barron of Campbell Road returned to their home last week after an extended holiday season in New York city. Fred has been prevented from putting the finishing touches to his new television comedy series due to the writers’ strike. He reports, however, that the strike has had no effect on his creative ideas. He flew to New York city over the weekend on business.

Election warden Muriel Bye once again reminds you that we will have the opportunity to cast our ballots Tuesday in the presidential primary. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m. at the public safety building in North Tisbury.

We send our sincere condolences to the family of former Oak Bluffs Police Chief Peter Williamson. Peter was a respected member of the Island community and a friend. Also Helen Manning, up in Aquinnah, died last weekend and we send our condolences to her family.

On Feb. 10, 1948 the annual town meeting voted to accept a gift from Donald R. Campbell of Old County Road of the Mill Pond by a standing vote of 56 yes, 16 no. It had been owned and maintained by his family for more than 100 years. Ancient records show that because of its central location and water power it not only attracted the farmers to grind their grain, but later became the site of the only textile mill on the Island, producing the celebrated satinet cloth. The pond consists of two acres of water and the acceptance contained one condition: the town must clean the pond, repair the dam and raise the water level. After considerable debate by the voters, a letter from the Rev. William Thompson, master of the Grange, was read urging its acceptance and pledging the Grange’s full cooperation and assistance in the clean-up work.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news, please call or e-mail me. Go Patriots — win the Super Bowl! Have a great week.