It seems the wheels fell off the Obama Express just as the victory celebration ended. The hangover has set in and it may last four more years, if he survives the gods of politics. Suddenly, even ardent supporters are stunned as they watch their leader stumble from one crisis to the next.

There I was, relishing my steamed lobster on special at the Net Result picnic table on gorgeous, brilliant June 1. In point of fact, I was a tad too enthusiastic about that cute crustacean, what with it being my first day of a months-long staycation, so I stupidly gulped entirely too much too prematurely.

The staff and board of directors at the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard would like to recognize the retirement of one our most passionate and tireless volunteers, Janet Norton. Since the beginning of the animal shelter, Janet has helped do the many tasks and thankless jobs that are a necessary to care for the dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs that come through our doors. Without the time and care Janet and the many other volunteers do at the shelter, we could not operate as we do.

Will somebody please plant a mulberry bush in the middle of the roundabout! After so much bickering, I think it’s time to sing its praises.

If you didn’t know already, you’ve probably gathered from what has been said so far today, this is one special group. So when they asked me back in January to be the one to give this speech, after a year in which some of them accused me of abandoning them to work with the middle school, I was overcome with gratitude.

From the Vineyard Gazette editions of June, 1979: Hot Tin Roof, a combined dance hall, restaurant, and stage for live performances at the Dukes County Airport, opens Thursday evening with the 24th Street Band, a rhythm and blues group from New York city. The steel building has been designed and erected in 67 days with two bars, a dance floor, a separate banquette seating area for dining and a deck overlooking the dancers and stage, George Brush, the manager and one of three principal owners said.