JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Well, if you are superstitious, sprinkle a little salt over your left should before reading today’s column. The weather last weekend was positively delightful and springlike. The temperatures climbed into the low 60s on both days. Golfers were out practicing their swing in the Agricultural Hall field, tops were down on convertibles, T-shirts were the order of the day, and folks began cleaning up the mess in their yard from winter. People are slowly adjusting to daylight saving time.

The exterior of the Slice of Life restaurant in North Tisbury is nearly finished and a new post and beam barn on the old Mayhew/Humphrey’s property is nearly closed in. Also you may have noticed that NSTAR has been replacing power poles in areas around town. It was just 79 years ago the electric company extended service to this town.

The snowdrops are in full bloom at the Betty Knox house and over at Phyllis Meras’ house on Music street as well as in many other yards around town. Robins, which have been flying around for nearly two weeks, were out in force in the warm weather; Jane Konicki out in Webster reports she has yellow pansies in full bloom in her garden, and Malcolm Hall out in Oaklahoma City is preparing to bring two dozen okra plants with him on his trip out here in two weeks.

Everyone is looking forward to the first day of spring next Friday. We were reminded on Monday that old man winter still has seven more days to make it uncomfortable; he soaked us with a cold rain and then the temperature dropped to 32 degrees and it snowed for a couple of hours!

The lambing season has begun, and Tara Whiting reports that nearly a dozen lambs were born at the farm last week and she has been treating them with tender loving care.

Stephanie Brothers, her daughter, Annabelle, and Chloe Maley, of Sweet William Way, returned home last week after a 10-day vacation in Cancun, Mexico. Stephanie reports that they had fun swimming with dolphins, enjoyed the beaches and of course the warm weather.

Paul Garcia and his wife, Alexis, and son, Noah, of State Road, returned home after a 10-day Jamaican vacation.

Eliza Lewis and her daughter, Lily, of Newton, came on Sunday to spend a few days at her father Tony’s camp in Deep Bottom. Lily is on spring break from her freshman year at Yale.

Sam Alley came home yesterday to spend his spring break from Framingham State College with his parents. He plans to check out summer job opportunities while he is home. He will be entering his senior year in the fall.

Sal Laterra, of Providence, R.I. arrived on Wednesday to spend the weekend with Phyllis Meras at her Music street home. He plans to assist her in developing her vegetable garden.

Warren and Marilyn Hollingshead, of Pond View Farm Road, returned home on Friday after their annual six-week vacation on Virgin Gorda Island. Warren reports that they had a wonderful time and the weather was wonderful.

Chantale Legare over at the school reports that they still need volunteers to help with the cakewalk sponsored by the PTO. It is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, from 6 till 8 p.m. over at the Grange Hall. For more information, please contact Sheila Morse.

The History Club at the school, facilitated by Donna Bishop, had the winning entry in the Massachusetts History Day District Competition held last Saturday at Brockton High School. The entry, Looking Back at the Vineyard Five, was a group documentary in the junior division dealing with the five Vineyard women — Nancy Whiting, Polly Murphy, Virginia Mazer, Nancy Smith and Peg Lilienthal — who in 1963 traveled down to North Carolina to register African American voters. The Club members are eighth grade students Maddie Webster, Raine Monast, Katie Smith, Lindsay Tocik and Olivia de Geofroy. They will compete in the state finals on April 4 at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Students who are successful at the state level will represent the Massachusetts at the National History Day finals, held in June. Congratulations and good luck to everybody!

Prudy Whiting, town clerk, wants to remind you that we are fast approaching the annual town meeting (April 14) and elections (April 16). The elections will be held at the Public Safety Building, a.k.a. the fire station located opposite Conroy’s Apothecary. The polls will be open from noon until 8 p.m. Contested races for town clerk and library trustee highlight the ballot. The last day to register to vote in the annual town meeting and election is Wednesday, March 25. She also reports that you might want to check with her soon to see if you remain on the voting list, as many people were removed this year.

Colleen Morris over at the library reports that Nicole Barlett RN, BSN, Community Health Nurse for VNA along with Dyan Reddick, founder of the Lyme Disease Association on MV. will share information with us about Lyme prevention, tick removal, and Lyme infections on Wednesday, March 25th at noon at the West Tisbury Library. For more information, call 508-693-3366.

Suzanne Slarsky Dael reports that this year’s Lights Out Martha’s Vineyard, will be held on March 28 between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Last year’s Lights Out on the Island was such a big success that the city of Boston has decided to join the campaign this year. You may contact her for further information. The Vineyard Conservation Society, Felix Neck Sanctuary, and the Vineyard Energy Project are sponsoring this event along with the able help of Gail Tipton and Suzanne.

Paddy Moore, vice chairman of the Martha’s Vineyard Democratic Council reports that they are hosting a platform hearing for all who are interested in offering input to the state Democratic platform; recommended changes will be submitted as testimony for the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in June. The hearing will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Howes House on State Road (opposite Alley’s Store and in front of the library). The group will hold a business meeting from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and the platform hearing will run from 10 to approximately noon. For more information, call her at 508-693-6716.

Debbie Magnuson, of State Road, and Dorothy Bangs, want everyone to remember to buy daffodils to support the American Cancer Society next Thursday in front of Fella’s, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Every donation helps people all across New England and is greatly appreciated.

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, and 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 Virginia Blakesley, Ann Hall, Dave Fitzpatrick, Janet Sylvia and Christopher Post today; Wendy Marzbanian and Benjamin Post tomorrow; Edmund Cottle, Peter Fisher, Dr. Jay Segel and Tamara Hersh on Sunday; Todd McGee, Geraldine Roddy and John Lorenzet on Monday; Maureen Hitchings, Patricia Sheehan and Bill Wilcox on Tuesday; Bob Douglas, Patricia McCarthy, Jake Merrill, Sam Hurd and Chuck Schmidt on Wednesday; Patrick Jenkinson, Shelly Brown and Joanne Roddy on Thursday. Belated birthday wishes to Leslie 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 Tuesday. After the traditional dinner of corned beef, cabbage and soda bread, be sure and watch the 1944 Oscar award-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 your dead!” Happy St. Patrick’s Day everybody.