She first won the July women’s singles tournament in 1953. She has won it five additional times until last Sunday. If she had dyed her hair and was wearing a white tennis dress, you would think you were watching the Jane Meleney Coe of the 1950s. At 79 the same steady, graceful groundstrokes were in evidence. She moved effortlessly around the court.

Jane dominated the women’s tournament this year. She defeated Lisa MacArthur in the singles finals 6-1, 6-2. She and Lisa defeated Lyn Herrick and Liz Huss in the women’s doubles finals 6-2, 7-5. From one who has competed against her in mixed doubles for many years, she continues to improve with a far more aggressive and assertive net game. All who watched her throughout the tournament were inspired by her impressive play this year.

The men’s July tournament was a little strange, although exciting at different points along the way. It was strange in that there were no men in the singles draw, only teenage boys. It was exciting because many of those teenage boys have become very good tennis players. In the singles finals 13 year old Ian Harris defeated 14 year old Max Potter 7-6, 6-4 in a well played match in which both boys displayed poise and good sportsmanship on the court. In the men’s doubles finals Nick Hyzak and J. Shepard defeated Jim and Ian Wooster 6-3, 6-1.

Kaitlin Solimine, Elizabeth Dibble’s college roommate at Harvard and author of the award winning novel Empire of Glass, will be speaking at the Oak Bluffs library on August 9 at 4 p.m. The book chronicles the dramatic and often cataclysmic changes that have taken place in China over the last 50 years through the eyes of an extraordinary Chinese family. Ms. Solimine began work on the book in 2006 while in China as a Fulbright Creative Arts Fellow. This is an author event you won’t want to miss.

For parents of young children looking for something to do on Saturday mornings in August, Friends of Sengekontacket sponsors Saturdays on Senge each Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The organization conducts a nature excursion on the pond led by a Felix Neck wildlife naturalist. Topics in the past have included mollusks, birds, and shells. Children ages four and up are encouraged to attend with the only requirement that a parent is with them. There is no charge for the excursion. If interested, plan to be at Little Bridge in Oak Bluffs at 9:30 a.m.

Finally, Jane Meleney Coe and I are having an August trivia contest for the revised edition of East Chop Families. I will give a free copy of the book to the first person who tells me the location of the pier where ferry boats first landed. Call me at 693-8065. I will provide the answer and announce the winner of the contest in my next column.