JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

We have had a tough January this year; she gave us a goodbye gift of snow, ice and rain to remember her. The average daily temperature has been at least six degrees below normal. The cold snaps have delayed the snow and ice from melting, and as a result it seems that every morning the footing is treacherous. Last Saturday the temperature dropped 30 degrees from a morning high of 40 and by bedtime it was just 10 degrees! The weather bureau reports that this month has been the fourth coldest on record. The early morning landscape, with snow on the ground and smoke from nearby chimneys, resembles a Currier and Ives painting. The Parsonage Pond had enough ice for skating activities last weekend. The line at the Up-Island gas station was long most all day Sunday with people taking advantage of the special price of fuel.

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. Malcolm reports that Judy just returned from Bethany Beach, Del., were she attended the annual Carmen Miranda midwinter art festival.

Stephanie Dreyer, school librarian, turned many heads of parents this past week while on crosswalk duty over at the school. She would greet the students dressed in various garb — a Mexican senorita complete with the wide brim hat speaking fluent Spanish one day, Hawaiian clothing another day, then she was a snow queen, a Russian princess and of course a cowgirl and one day she had Hannah Montana assist her. When the parents arrived to drop off their kids, coffee mugs clasped tightly in their right hands, they did a double take. She is the most innovative and popular staff member when it comes to crossing guard duty.

Cynthia Riggs, of Edgartown Road, extends an open invitation to everyone to attend her 20th annual Groundhog Day party at the Cleaveland House on Edgartown Road from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday. Her parties are much anticipated, very interesting and a lot of fun. Please bring your favorite hors d’ouevre to share with your friends but she says it is not a necessary requirement to attend. There is ample off road parking in the field that is home to her boat with a separate entrance off of New Lane. Her party is also viewed by many as the kickoff of the local political season.

Mary Lu Keep, of South Vine, reports that her grandson Jamie from Plymouth, Mich., was at the inauguration. Also a blue peacock that strolls around her neighborhood made himself evident that day, and during the swearing in ceremony he hopped onto her deck and spread his tail showing them all its glorious color at the stroke of noon.

Linda Baughman, of Philadelphia, Pa., arrived yesterday to visit her friend Phyllis Meras on Music street. Linda is excited to be able to attend her first groundhog day celebration.

Stephanie Brothers and her daughter Annabelle, of Sweet William Way, returned home on Monday after a weekend in Essex, Conn., where they went to visit with Annabelle’s crib mate.

Bob Eisendrath and his son Matt, of Belmont, were at their summer home on Middle Road last weekend. Bob had some business appointments and they returned home on Monday.

Rhonda Backus, manager of the general store, and her assistant Cherrilla Brown, of Buttonwood Farm Road, went down to New York city to attend trade shows last weekend. They returned home on Wednesday.

Gloria Sylva, over at the school, reports that there will be a coffee house with music sponsored by the PTO in the cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. Also that this is the Chinese New Year, the year of the Ox.

We were saddened to hear on Tuesday that author John Updike passed away. For many summers John and his family were regulars around town.

Tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon the Polly Hill Arboretum and Susan Murphy, proprietor of Murphy Blueberry Farm in Chilmark, will host a workshop in the technique of pruning blueberries. Learn how proper pruning can stimulate growth to insure a larger crop of berries on native Vineyard shrubs. The workshop focuses on correct pruning techniques for both old mature plants and younger shrubs. Meet at the Murphy farm, dressed for the weather with your pruners. For directions and to register, call 508-693-9426.

On Feb. 1, 1954, Stanley Eddy of Chilmark announced he had leased the former Ole Borgen/Maud Call store which he had purchased at public auction last summer to Miss Erdine Cobb, of New York city. The building had had many uses over the years, store, post office, a parlor that featured famous homemade ice cream and penny candy. It was also the headquarters of the only filling station in North Tisbury. It sold Texaco Fire Chief Gasoline and had only one pump. Miss Cobb planned to operate a special kind of catering service limited to providing casserole dishes, hors d’oeurves, sandwiches and canapés for cocktail parties and teas. Miss Cobb named her business the Covered Dish and she planned to open around Memorial Day. The business was to be open only during the peak season as Miss Cobb was employed during the winter months. She planned to take up residency when renovation work was complete and was excited at the golden opportunity for a profitable business venture.

Happy birthday to Dr. Charles Silberstein, Tallia Emily Annese, Jack Wilson and Adele Schonbrun today; Margaret D’Angelo, Melissa Lawry and John Hough Jr tomorrow; William Deeble, Bob Salop, Leah Smith and Rosemary Hoeft on Sunday; Larry Brandon and Gayle Mone on Monday; Janet Belain, Rita Reynolds, Ken Francis and Jeanne Ogden on Tuesday; Lillian DiMartino and Ernie Chaves on Wednesday; Emily Rodegast, Sarah Reekie and Maggie Bresnahan on Thursday. Happy anniversary wishes to Ken and Cathy Campbell.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Sunday is the Super Bowl game between Arizona and Pittsburgh; it is not the same level of excitement without the Patriots. Have a great week.