It was great to see the Karen Cole, co-chair of the Cottagers Community Outreach and Charity Committee, with her team at the Edgartown Stop & Shop on Saturday collecting donations of food and cash for the Island Pantry.

Her colleagues, Ardell Otten, Georgette Williams, Marisha Clinton-Pressley and Amanda Strong were splitting the four-hour shift at this location. Her fellow co-chair, Kim Tarver, coordinated the team at Cronig’s market on State Road. Committee members Diane Welburn, Pam Bundy and Deidre Davis greeted and solicited patrons coming in and out of the store. We are all are grateful for their efforts to combat food insecurity!

The Polar Bears opened their 79th season of daily swim and water aerobics at Inkwell Beach with 146 participants in the water. Last Saturday, the Polar Bears hosted their annual free community concert to share joy and give back to the Island community. This year’s show featured the Trumpet Chics with Andrew Sue-Wing. The Trumpet Chics are members of the Preparing Artists for College Entrance (PACE), under the auspices of the Camden Repertory Theater in Camden, N.J. which helps expand opportunities for students in the arts. In addition, Steve Capers donated the Strand Theatre for the Trumpet Chics staging of a Broadway style musical of Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, adapted from John Steptoe’s book.

A hearty congratulations to chief Polar Bear Caroline Hunter for being selected as one of the 2025 recipients of the prestigious MV Medal 2025, given by the Martha’s Vineyard Museum on July 28. So richly deserved! All are invited to come applaud her for this recognition. Caroline will be introduced by long time Polar Bear, Judge Ed Redd (retired), of Oak Bluffs.

The Union Chapel Trustees will be hosting its very first auction and entertainment night on August 1. You can click on the Chapel website for more information. All are invited to attend. Co-chairs Brenda Bryan and Cindy Carter have many treats in store.

Retired Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie gave a preview on Sunday of her preaching prowess which will be featured this past week at the Union Chapel Womanist Conference organized by Union Chapel president Rev. Dr. Aliya Brown.

Noman’s Friday night DJ event from 5 to 10 p.m. is that rare generational evening of entertainment! This past Friday the dance floor was inspired by Shelley and Ann Stewart’s two grandsons, under the age of five! They were learning the boogie woogie from a host of family and friends. Many patrons however are still grumbling about the new $10 cover charge this year. Stay tuned.

July 31 begins the kickoff of the Charles Ogletree Public Forum Series at Union Chapel. Higher education has seen a tumultuous year in America and the series is tackling it head on. Keeping the Faith: Civil Discourse on Campus is the first event on July 31 and Navigating Higher Education in 2025: A Conversation with Leaders will be held on August 3. Both begin at 4 p.m. and will be held at the Chapel.

August 6 will feature a double header. The Boston Medical Center will present Own Your Future: Empowering Health, Wealth and Community from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m., followed immediately by the Kellogg Foundation presenting Tremaine Lee and LaJune Montgomery Tabron on the subject of Hope in High Water: A People’s Recovery Twenty Years After Hurricane Katrina. The second panel will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Many neighbors and abutters near the site of the former Ocean View restaurant who attended the MV Commission last Thursday night were disappointed that the meeting did not allow time for public comment on plans to redevelop the site. The proposed redevelopment of this former restaurant site is a three-story hotel with a pool and accommodations for up to 72 guests. All are invited to return for public testimony on August 7. It was announced that all public testimony will be allowed even if it extends beyond 9:30 p.m.

Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as time is fleeting.

Rest in Peace , Randall Edward Taylor