We teach our children life lessons based in empowerment, self-esteem, responsibility, academic skill, tolerance, respect, gratitude, a sense of purpose and good moral values. Sometimes, we adults need to be reminded to practice what we preach. Rather than react to a situation with nastiness, aggression and entitlement, take a deep breath and be admirable by relying on qualities like compassion, kindness and respect. Be curious, open-minded, tactful, honest, optimistic, imaginative and most of all, an instrumental part of our community. It’s not all about you but your words do matter.

I could go on with my public service announcement but as Thumper said in the 1942 classic Disney film:“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” Words to live by.

Cybele McCormick is back behind the counter at the Menemsha Deli. She’s got her fabulous lineup of sandwiches on the board and a wonderful selection of fresh salads to grab and go. If you’re lucky, you might just catch son Miles sitting in the window watching the cars go by munching a breakfast sandwich before heading off to school.

Larsen’s Fish Market’s doors have just opened for their 50th season. I think Mary and Louie would be pleased to see all that Betsy, Kristine and crew, including right hand man cousin Scott Larsen, have accomplished.

Stanley and Lanette Larsen just freshened up their window boxes at Menemsha Fish Market and continue to offer periodic incentives. Just the other day you couldn’t go wrong with “buy one pound of bay or sea scallops and get a free cup of clam chowder.”

Bella Thorpe, 16-year-old daughter of Julie Flanders and Bart, traveled to Gales Ferry, Conn. this past weekend to show for the first time on her new mare, Bella Ymas. There was a lot of rain to deal with at the Mystic Valley Hunt Club’s Dressage Show but the two Bellas took it in stride. Wearing number 211, the Bellas received a fourth and a second place in second level test 1. As always, the Woodbe Farm team (both the participants and support system) had a wonderful show weekend.

Soccer season is back in full swing (of the leg) and Seabella Vargas, daughter of Sascha Wlodyka, was on a winning team. Baseball is also back in full swing (of the bat) with a large contingency from Chilmark participating. The Abrams, Zack and Lionette offspring to name just a few. As our beloved and dearly missed Bill Edison would say: play ball.

Todd Christy traveled to Burke Mountain, Vt., for the Rasputitsa Gravel Road Race. Although he missed Dash win another MA D5 State Track and Field Championship in shuttle hurdles and place fifth with his teammates in the Sprint Medley Relay he was there, as they say, in spirit.

Congratulations to Alexa Monroy of Guatemala City, Guatemala and Alex Fankuchen, grandson of Jean Kantrowitz and the late Adrian Kantrowitz and son of Lisa Kantrowitz and Elliott Fankuchen of Chilmark, on their recent engagement. The couple plans to marry Valentine’s Day 2020 in Antigua, Guatemala. The annual Chilmark School May Day festivities hosted by the fourth and fifth grade class — Bella Arters, Zeb Athearn, Arjuna Begle, Malia Bodnar, Cuinn Borella, Amaya Hyde, Emmett Taylor, Leah Thomson, Aki Weiner, Fletcher Zack, Haile Barbosa, Grazina Biskis, Hunter Broderick, Cian Davis, Jean Flanders, Lathrop Keene, Walter Prescott, Anthony Smith and Claus Smith — was full of laughter, fun and frolic. The day included the May Pole dance, games and lunch. Community tradition at its finest is represented right here.