JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

By the middle of next week, there will be a large turnover of tenants. Business people report that although it is has been busy and the traffic terrible at times, it has not been as busy as last year. They point out that energy prices, which are still out of control and affecting everything, are the major reason. Gasoline at Up-Island Auto is now at the currently low price of $4.59 per gallon, but that is still $1.12 more than last year at the same time. Weekends are busy but during the middle of the week many observe that it seems flat compared to other summers. Reliable Market down in Oak Bluffs is more than likely an exception to the rule as they are busy from morning till 6 p.m.

It is time to say goodbye to all the July visitors and wish all of them a fond farewell. We trust that you have had a good vacation and enjoyed summer weather. We hope that you will come back and visit us next year.

Stephen and Cathy Godfrey and their children Caroline and Stephen of Leawood, Kans., will return for their 10th year on the Island. They will celebrate Caroline’s 18th birthday on August 5. Special guests joining them on the Island this year for a few days starting lastMonday are Josephine, Caroline and Stephen’s grandmother and their favorite cousin, Mary of theSinclair Automobile Family group of St. Louis,Mo. Mary and Josephine Godfreywere in New York recently for a wedding and Jeannette Seneca of Huntington will be driving and ferrying them to the Island. It will be a mini-family reunion of the Leawood, St. Louis and Huntington, N.Y., membe rs of the Godfrey and Grana families. They plan on beach time, lighthouses, sightseeing and hopefully a classic sunset.

Lee Revere, chairman of the book sale, reports that the hours for the 51st annual book sale are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, tomorrow and Sunday. The sale will be held in the school gym on Old County Road. A large selection is available. All the books that are not sold are free on Monday morning. The books in many instances are from private collections and it is considered the premier book sale of the summer.

David Christensen and his wife Carol of Edgartown Road report that they have just returned home after three weeks in Ghana and Kenya. They have had an ongoing mission in Ghana for the past eight years, working through the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, in schools, churches, and health care facilities. They willshare their experiences at a potluck supper Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at the Federated Church in Edgartown. They also will have items for sale to help support the projects in Ghana.

The London Times reports that this week at the largest comics convention in the world, the San Diego Con, the industry bestows the Eisner Awards for the best comics of the preceding year. Paul Karasik, our favorite cartoonist, is a comic artist who had studied under Will Eisner. His graphic novel co-adaptation of Paul Auster’s City of Glass is considered a classic of the genre, and his most recent book, I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets, has been nominated for two Eisner awards.

Patti Linn reports that the Sundaes on Saturday event will be held tomorrow over at the Congregational Church from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m. All of the money they make will go to benefit the scholarship fund. A repeat of the popular event is planned for next month.

Bonnie Meras of East Chop was feted at a birthday celebration on Sunday at the Music street home of her sister in law Phyllis. Sixteen people, family members and close friends attended the festivities. Sal Laterra, of Providence, R.I., was also present.

Vacationing at the Rosenthal house last week were Edean Mendonsa and her children Jenna and John and Scott Donovan of Warwick and Lauren Roberti of Cranston, R.I. They entertained several house guests during the week: Helen Amaral of Fall River, Sue Boulanger of Somerset, Helen Andromalous of Port Smith, R.I., and John Cunha and Brenda Lees of Warwick. Edean reports that they had a marvelous week.

The Garden Gate Development Center held its sixth annual fundraising event at the Grange Hall Tuesday evening. It was very successful and quite enjoyable.

Anna Alley of State Road took a midsummer break and went over to Hyannis to meet up with her sister, Nina Berry. They traveled to her home in Providence, then went down to New York city with Nina’s husband Dieter Pohl and their son Nick for the weekend. They all enjoyed seeing Chuck Mangione and band at the Blue Note, as well as a visit to the Frick Collection. Dieter and Nick attended a ball game whilethe ladies went shopping and visited with friends and their brother Donald Berry and sister-in-law, Christina Thomas. Anna returned home on Monday.

Emily Gadd of South Road reports that she has an abundance of squash this season and the other vegetables are ahead of schedule.

There have been two deaths since I last wrote the column. Old friend Polly Meinelt, who lived on the South Road in Chilmark, had a vast knowledge of the Island and was an interesting person with whom to converse. Our condolences to Ted and his family. Last Thursday afternoon, Wendy Jenkinson passed away, with her husband Patrick at her side. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends, and especially by her children, Marguerite and Wyatt. A celebration of her life will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Captain Flanders Farm on the Nort h Road. Look for their obituaries elsewhere in today’s paper.

The saga of the restoration of the Frank Adams house continues. It is now clear, after uncovering more of the box paneling addressed to Miss Priscilla Hancock which was turned into crude paneling in an upstairs bedroom, just what was in the wooden crates. They were shipped from the Jencks Paper Box Co. in Providence, R.I., and contained the distinctive one-pound boxes Priscilla used to sell her famous chocolates. Also discovered on a stud near the other upstairs bedroom was an empty bottle of Dr. Warren’s bilious bitters that was popular around the time of the Civil War. It guaranteed to purify and regulated your blood, cure liver complaints, jaundice, headaches, dizziness, piles and colds and fever. It was 21.5 per cent alcohol. Also a bottle of Lyons Kathairon from the same time period was found in the same location and guaranteed to cure weakness, debility and other ailments. It was 75 per cent alcohol and 25 per cent castor oil. Will Monast, who removed a beam that had been pit sawed, a technique that became unnecessary because of advancements in carpentry around 1760, found hand-forged iron nails, rarely seen today, dating back to the same time frame. He reports that he has worked on many old houses in his lifetime but this is by far the oldest.

Happy birthday to Bob Ogden, Darah Schwartz and Gregory Small today; Fran Bradley, Cynthia Mitchell and Charles Morgan tomorrow; Doug Ried, Mariko Kawaguchi, Max Decker and Mary Folin on Sunday; Stacy Haden, Greg Orcutt, Beth Serusa and Allen Whiting on Monday; Julie Humphreys, Bob Day, Dan Rossi and Amanda Lobb on Tuesday; Pat Lynch, Perry Garfinkel, Mark Mazer, Jesse Oliver and Diane Hartman on Wednesday; and Karin Magid, Trevor Grimes and Eben Elias on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Minor Knight and Margaret Rose Hoff. Also belated anniversary wishes to Kern and Cheryl Grimes of Waldron’s Bottom Road and Dick and Lee Pilabosian of Auburn.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news, please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.