All the best to Walter E. Delaney as he heads to his new adventure in an assisted living facility. Walter was escorted out of the town of Aquinnah on Tuesday by the fire department, the police department, and many well-wishing friends and his neighbors. He will be moving to north of Boston to be closer to his daughter Gayle and her husband Andrew and his grandson Raymond. Walter and his late wife Nancy moved to Aquinnah as seasonal residents in 1950 when it was still Gay Head and Gayle was a toddler. He served as the Aquinnah fire chief, as a selectman and for many years as the town moderator. There were other committees along the way. Nancy was involved as an Aquinnah library trustee, on the Board of Registrars and other committees. They were both very committed to the town, and their unwavering loyalty will be missed. Many good wishes to you Walter!

This has been a rather great week weather-wise, with temperatures reaching the 70s often. But it dipped to 30 degrees on the morning of May 29, which was quite a surprise. The rhododendrons are spectacular. The trees have really filled in despite the lack of abundant rain. The highways and byways are being mowed for the season. Thank you to Jay Smalley for the mowing along Lighthouse Road.

Another summer adventure many are anticipating is the arrival of the Charles W. Morgan on its 38th voyage. The last whaling ship has undergone a major renovation at Mystic Seaport to set sail once more. It is scheduled to arrive in Vineyard Haven harbor on June 21. Many activities have been centered around the arrival. I gave my last Vineyard whaling history class on Tuesday to young students, and that evening Eric Jay Dolin presented The History of American Whaling and his book Leviathan at the Federated Church for the Martha’s Vineyard Museum during the unveiling of the Spotlight Gallery Charles W. Morgan exhibit. It was a pleasure to meet Joe Forbrich, who has written the play The Whaleship Essex. The book was written by our dear friend Nathaniel Philbrick of Nantucket. Joe Forbrich has been the guest of Denys and Marilyn Wortman while here to present the performances at the Vineyard Playhouse from June 19 to July 12, with opening night on June 21. It will be an interesting time over the next eight weeks with so much planned.

Did you see Kenneth Ivory at the Lighthouse at Aquinnah Circle this past Sunday? Ken went up for a half-hour visit and ended up staying for two hours. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard at West Chop (about two miles from his childhood home) during the 1970s. One of his duties was to measure the degree of erosion at the cliffs near the lighthouse. One storm alone eroded an eight-foot area. At present, the lighthouse is about 42 feet from the edge. In any event, Ken was able to give a wonderful perspective to many visitors on Sunday and now will consider being a volunteer for the Vineyard museum a the lighthouse. Ken was a Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School graduate in 1970 and has been employed at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital since 1975.

Get well wishes to our middle sister Judith Manning Milavsky who underwent a procedure near her home in Toronto on Monday and is now resting comfortably at home.

Get well wishes to Joan Gentry Patadal, Michael Achille, Virginia Hall and her sister Patricia Costa, and to Ed Colligan.

Congratulations and all the best to the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School seniors who will graduate on June 8. Graduating from Aquinnah will be Chantal Booker, daughter of Spencer and Belinda Booker.

To all the graduates: just make the most of your life over the next few decades. My five decades have gone by very fast. Eight of us from our MVRHS class of 1964 met on Saturday, one of many meetings as we now plan our 50th reunion in October. It seems like only yesterday.

Joan LeLacheur will have an assortment of graduation gifts of wampum at her open studio on June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Please call her at 508-645-9954 for directions.

Congratulations to Faith Smalley who graduated from Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Mass., on June 1 at the 116th commencement exercises at the school. Faith, the youngest child of Jay and Millicent Smalley, will head to Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., in the fall.

Robert and Marjorie Potts will show their documentary film You May Call Her Madam on Sunday evening. June 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center on Center Street in Tisbury. They had presented their film about three years ago and it was a most fascinating story about Frances Perkins whose work became the basis for much, but especially the Social Security Act. There is a $5 suggested donation.

Over Father’s Day weekend, the First Baptist Church will serve barbecue chicken and rib dinners in a complete meal with dessert and beverage for $12. Take out is also available. Reservations are suggested by calling 508-693-1539.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Eileen Flynn Andrews who passed away on May 28. Eileen Ann (Flynn) Andrews was a dedicated nurse for hundreds of Vineyarders over the past 40 years. She worked at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital mostly in the long-term care unit and then at Windemere. Eileen certainly lovingly cared for many members of my family and she treated her patients as if they were family. She will be missed greatly by her daughters Katy, Sarah and Elizabeth, but especially by her fellow employees whom she worked side by side with over the decades. They are an amazing group of caregivers.

Happy 62nd anniversary wishes to Capt. Robert Kinnecom and his bride Ernestine (Rose) as they celebrate on June 7.

Happy 7th anniversary wishes to Michael and Melissa (Vanderhoop) Abrams as they party on June 9

Happy 20th anniversary wishes to Edwin and Patricia (Paiva) Vanderhoop on June 11.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Judie Jardin on June 7. Mark Harding and Sarah Saltonstall share the day on June 8. Michael J. Fox parties on June 9 and shares the day with Ernestine Kinnecom, Ken Rose, Meaghan Jeffrers and Allen Carney. A very special happy birthday wish to Carl Widdiss on June 10 and to Ruth Stiller and Aquinnah Hill. Barry M. Milavsky will party on June 11. Jennifer Caton Randolph and Ted Cammann share the day on June 12.