Every once in awhile on a Friday I wonder why I subscribe to a second Vineyard weekly newspaper. Bill Eville’s superb article, “Honoring Each Moment Along Life’s Long Journey.”

I had been counting my lucky stars that I was the only person on all of South Beach, until that moment. No working cell, dog in freezing water clinging to the edge of the ice in the middle of the pond, and me, soaking wet and freezing.

Well, we have distracted your attention long enough to get across the creek, and here we are right in front of what is known today as the Franklin Tilton house. This, I understand, was the first house where now stands the cluster known as Menemsha.

Leadership is needed, to get ahead of the doubters and remind Islanders in a compelling way why the commission was formed, what its purview is and what’s at stake.

I feel lucky to have been raised in a place that is still somewhat isolated from the rest of the country due to the fact that it is surrounded by water.