JOHN S. ALLEY

508-693-2950

(alleys@vineyard.net)

Our weather records tell us that this has been the coldest and rainiest June in 75 years and we still have four days to go! People continue to arrive for their vacation and hope the weather turns into summer. Starting on Wednesday the crunch should be upon us as some folks will get a head start on the holiday weekend as Independence Day is next Saturday.

School is dismissed at noon today for the summer and the VTA summer bus schedule begins tomorrow morning.

Last Sunday the Rev. Cathlin Baker was formally installed as the minister of the Congregational Church. The ceremony was impressive, meaningful and well attended. She is the first female minister in the history of the church that dates back to 1673.

Marian Irving, of Old County Road, reports that the church is the place to be tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. for the 21st annual Strawberry Festival. It has been one of the events that usher in summer. They will prepare about 500 pounds of fresh strawberries, use gallons of whipped cream and serve Island baked shortcake biscuits. Peter and Peggy Yoars cochair the event.

Carey Rosenthal and his daughters Brin and Blake came up to visit him last weekend. I got the daughters’ college news mixed up. Brin recently graduated from Cornell University and his daughter Blake has been accepted to study at Harvard. Our congratulations to the both of them. Last weekend they gave a piano and flute recital in their home for neighbors and close friends. Carey played a piece on the piano that he has been working on all winter.

Warren and Marilyn Hollinshead, of Pond View Farm Road, have as guests this weekend their daughter Dana, her husband, Todd Gill, and seven-month-old grandson Evan. Also visiting is Todd’s family from West Dennis, R.I., and California.

Barbara Holden, of Gloucestershire, England returned home on Sunday after visiting her daughter, Alexia, her husband, Paul, and grandson Noah Garcia at their State Road home. Barbara reluctantly passed up the opportunity to attend the centuries-old shin-kicking contest in her home town.

Over 100 antique automobiles, ranging from a Ford Model T to a 1976 Plymouth, arrived last Wednesday for their annual visit and exhibition. Their owners are members of the Boston Area Roadsters. Several of them stopped at the Field Gallery last Saturday and drew a large crowd curious to see the cars close up and ask the owners questions.

Judge B.L. Bird, of Fairfax, Va., has been in residence at his home on Music street. He opened the house and is getting it ready for the summer. His sisters visited him last week and his daughter Chris last weekend.

Bea Whiting, of State Road, reports that her father Allen and mother Lynne will be hosting their 28th annual opening art reception on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. Allen will have new oil paintings, landscapes, still lifes and a selection of new charcoal drawings hanging in his home gallery at 985 State Road. Allen’s openings have become a special event for everyone. They typically attract hundreds of people from all walks of life.

David McCullough and his wife, Rosalee, have returned to their Music street home for a summer visit last Friday. Their daughter Dorie and her children Rosie, Nat, Laurie and May arrived on Father’s Day for a two-week visit. Her husband Tim Lawson will arrive on Sunday. They will be staying in the Kansas section of town.

Andrew Dickerman, of Providence, R.I., his daughter Ariel and her friend Joy Brenner-Letich from Baltimore, Md., have been staying at his house on Long Point. Andrew returned yesterday after a quick trip to Providence on business.

Malcolm and Judy Hall, of Oklahoma City and Pond Road, have been busy preparing the house for family and friends to spend the Fourth of July. Malcolm returned home on Sunday after a week trip to Oklahoma City on business and reports the weather was wonderful and very warm in OKC.

Sal Laterra, of Providence, R.I., was the weekend guest of Phyllis Meras of Music street. Sal helped Anna Alley with a painting project and supervised some landscaping. They entertained Baron von Ochs and his wife Gudrin last Saturday evening. Sal returned to his home on Monday.

Cousin Millie Fodor her husband, Joe, and son Bala of Loudonville, Ohio, arrived last Sunday for their first ever visit to the Island. Millie is exploring the place and meeting family relatives. We hope that they return again and the weather is better. They are staying at the Ben Moore camp on Middle Point.

Bob and Filis Casey arrived at their Deep Bottom home for a month’s stay on Monday during the northeaster to find their property littered with leaves torn from the trees by the gale force winds. They hope to get cleaned up in time for the arrival of their weekend guests, Priscilla and Geoff Stein of Newton. Filis and Priscilla have been friends for 35 years since they first met and found they were both Jersey girls transplanted to New England. They hope to sample the new fare at the recently opened State Road restaurant. The Steins have been longtime guests in Edgartown and are looking forward to sampling up-Island hospitality.

Carol Craven, of Music street, is pleased to announce that her Gallery in Vineyard Haven will be hosting her first exhibition of the season starting today by four artists. The exhibitions continue through next Friday. There will be a reception on that day from 5 to 7 p.m. for all the artists. The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy their work.

Alan Brigish reports that he is collaborating on an e-book project with Susan Klein. Susan writes about the way the Vineyard was and he shows it the way it is today. To see the first four chapters, go to mvgazette.com and click the link to Martha’s Vineyard Now & Zen. He is also posting an e-book serial about an amazing trip he undertook last year in Indochina; that can be found by clicking on Breathing in the Buddha.

Karin Stanley reports that on Tuesday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, grounds manager Tom Clark will conduct a walking tour of Polly Hill Arboretum and tell stories of how the various plant or tree species secured a place, revealing some fascinating stories. For more information, please call 508-693-9426.

There will be a memorial service for Shelton Bank on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Agricultural Hall with a potluck supper to follow.

“On June 22, 1945 Joseph Santos, of Music street, was transported to the hospital for a treatment for a severe cut on his foot. The deep gash was closed by means of several stitches. Joe was repairing the roof of his house and was barefooted at the time of the injury. It seems he stepped on a piece of metal flashing causing the injury. He is the owner of the former Moses Mitchell Academy building at one time known as the Canary cottage on Music street. In addition to tending to his own farm of cows and pigs, he is the caretaker of the Raymond Barth property on Scotchman’s Lane and Old County Road.”

Happy birthday to Lynn Bouck, Alicia Tonti, Paula Black, Sarah Murphy and Dennis Kaeka today; David Steere, Woody Bowman, Jonathan Belain, Samantha Schwager and Heidi Spruce tomorrow; Alvida Jones, Barbara Cotterill, Samantha Look and Sam Decker on Sunday; Harriet Bernstein, Jack Gray, Ruby Hoy and Myles Thurlow on Monday; Clifton Athearn, Jean Levesque, Rebecca Norris, Ken Mastromonaco and Scott Yapp on Tuesday; Shirley Cartier, Karl Hermanns and Brian Jolley on Wednesday; Cherrilla Brown, Diane Abbot, Marianne Tsikitas, Elliot Tholen, Sioux Eagle, Marsha Winsryg and Debbie Farber on Thursday. Happy anniversary to Chris Hind and Shannon Brown on Tuesday. Belated anniversary wishes to David Lewis and his wife, Danica Kombol.

Well, that is all of the social news for this edition. Please call or e-mail me with your news. Have a great week.