People fish the Derby year after year, even if they don’t catch a winning fish. There is a sense of camaraderie. There is a sense of being one with nature. There is a sense of being part of a bigger story.

Day one of the Derby revealed some great fish and a whole bunch of familiar names on the leader board. Ryan Rossi had kids Sloane and Jack out on the water and each wrestled up weighable fish. The kids got daily awards and dad had stories to tell.

Max Suman got out there early with his buddy Emmett Athearn. Max reeled in a very respectable seven-plus-pound bonito making the trip to the weigh-in a must. Latham Kurth fought a beast of a bluefish weighing in at 16.63 pounds. Mae Thompson and Finley Wilbur both made the daily board with their bonito. Mae’s dad Simon couldn’t have been happier to get out on the water with the next generation. Along with age comes skill.

Young Odin Scheffer proudly casted, hooked, reeled and brought in a fish. Mom Emma and dad Isaiah simply watched in awe. Way to go, Odin. Please share your derby stories. I’m already working on the 2026 booklet.

Amidst the all encompassing derby fever, is a proud grandfather toting around his tiny granddaughter. He claims he’s giving his daughter a much needed opportunity to rest a spell, but I think he’s simply enjoying the opportunity for profound intergenerational connection. Harris Loeser is visibly content with the presence of his and Jane’s first grandchild. Young Noe Jane Cimeno was born in San Francisco on June 17 to Maddy and Jono. She is the fourth generation Loeser to be introduced to a cherished family tradition of time well spent in Menemsha.

The long-standing tradition of the 4/5 class at the Chilmark School enjoying the first week of school aboard the Shenandoah is an experience designed to build confidence, foster independence and provide an authentic, hands-on learning experience outside the classroom. The kids return walking a little taller after the experience, which fosters the spirit of cooperation, discovery and independence. According to student Phoebe Esposito, they sent out messages in bottles, mended clothing, wrote their own sea shanties and swabbed the decks a lot. Not only did they sail to Tarpaulin Cove, but they made their way to Mattapoissett as well. I’ll share more of their story next week because it’s pretty fabulous.

Lynne McCormack shares a shout out from the Chilmark Library in search of artists interested in showing their work in the community room. Applications can be found on the library website. I look forward to seeing your creative eyes on display over the upcoming months.

Communities lose members all the time. It’s the final move in this game of life and for those left playing the game it is certainly a hard blow. We have been left feeling the loss of Dennis Jason, Frank LoRusso and Dr. Tim Guiney.

Dennis, a father, grandfather, steadfast fisherman and former harbormaster, has left his mark on generations to come with dedication and perseverance. His presence will be missed, most notably on the waterfront where his name will continue to be spoken often.

Frank, dedicated family man, businessman and long time community volunteer, has left silence where there once was laughter at a palpable volume. Friends and family will keep his spirit alive by hauling lobster pots, stocking freezers with venison, hosting get togethers and committing to the betterment of town affairs.

Dr. Guiney, quite literally, touched the hearts of so many in our community and the loss of his expertise and his dedication to patients is more than noteworthy. When I messaged his brother Don, he wrote that his brother “not only cared for hearts, but the people that held them, including mine.”

Without these three, Chilmark will be a little quieter.