As the island hunkers down from the constant winds of tropical storm Henri, it took a bit of doing to find the news – but news there is!  Many thanks to Susan Reece for the multi-week wrap-up of island doings in the past several weeks.  I am sure I’m not the only one who’s glad for the return of all our traditional island activities this summer.  Their absence last year has only made them even more special.

Edna Stoddard wishes to thank the Island family for their participation in the celebration of her 100th birthday. A fun time was had by all who gathered in the balloon-bedecked casino.  100 candles were lit on the birthday board and Edna and Linda successfully extinguished all with the aid of two balloon pumps.  (Last year’s COVID-19 lesson – the reverse action of a balloon pump blows out candles.)  The cottage was full for the week as Edna was joined by her family: David Stoddard and Cat Koch, Linda, Tony, Mark and Sarah Harper and 2-month-old Lilah Certeza.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Pierce who has successfully defended her dissertation on the 19th, to earn her Ph.D. from the Heller School of Social Policy at Brandeis University! Well done, Dr. Pierce! Additionally, Lou, a 7-month-old black lab puppy has joined their household for the school year while his family is in Zambia on a Fulbright. Exciting times for all concerned, I’d say! Emma Wilman is also at the Pierce Cottage, which has been a hive of activity. Ben (and several helpers, I’m sure) dug clams and found mussels and snails for a seafood dinner for all.

We waved a fond farewell to Peter, Marta, George and Millie McClennan this week. I think they picked the nicest couple of weeks for their time on the island! Speaking of McClennans, Tuesday night Joanne and Richard Phillips, Susan and Rob Reece, Betsy and Brad Hastings and Peter and Marta McClennan went off for a sibling dinner without any children or grandkids!  I didn’t hear where they were going, but I’m sure they had a great time.

Natalie Bowen (of the Bowen cottage) was part mermaid last week: she dove under the pier to search for a cell phone lost by Nick Saunders. After two days of repeated dives, she located the phone and triumphantly returned it to its owner.

At the Jones Cottage, Glen and Cindy McCandless welcomed her brother Jamie Giles and his wife Dorothy and her sister Ginger Ross, all from Tennessee.

Jack Vayda reports their trip to Nashville was successful, assuming all goes well with the final inspection. I’m sure he’d be happy to fill everyone in on the details, so stop him and ask.

Despite the threatening rain, a good number of folks showed up for the Sunday service led by Arthur Norton who had a one man show ably playing hymns on the organ and reminiscing about his childhood days on the Island. While many things have changed and today’s children don’t fetch water from the wells and would scoff at a boat with only a 1.5 hp engine, it seems the basic island childhood of exploring and adventuring hasn’t changed much at all! I think everyone present thoroughly enjoyed hearing the stories and remembering friends no longer with us.