June ended with some exciting passages to report. Ryan Laslovitch, my good friend and neighbor, has completed his first year at Johnson and Wales University–and he’s on the dean’s list. Ryan is the son of Keith and Tania Laslovitch. It is great to have such fine neighbors and especially grand to have a young man in the neighborhood who is learning to be a great chef.

Meanwhile, I am head-over-heels proud that my friend, Elizabeth Sullivan, completed her studies at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Elmsford, and is headed to Montfort Academy in September. Her parents, Greg and Josephine, are so proud.

Jeremy and Melaney Dunham are thrilled that 10-year-old Connor has graduated from one class designation at the Charter School and will move to the next in September. His parents have done a wonderful job homeschooling him for much of this spring.

A different kind of promotion has come to our fire chief, John Schilling. After 40 years in our volunteer Tisbury Fire Department, 18 of those as fire chief, John has retired. He was feted with a surprise celebration and farewell at Veterans Park last Monday. If you heard sirens, screams and applause, it was no emergency but a way to say thank you and good luck to John on his new phase.

Gretchen Baer, multitalented daughter of Jacqueline and the late Gene Baer, is continuing teaching arts in Bisbee, Ariz. The virus has somewhat altered her class arrangements. Gretchen is collecting bags of art supplies and sending them to her eager students in Naco, Sonora. She has posted some recent photos of her work and theirs.

In other accolades, Leslie’s Pharmacy was voted Best of the Vineyard in Martha’s Vineyard Magazine. They are carefully and considerately still delivering your pharmaceutical needs curbside.

Now, here is a curbside delivery I can certainly appreciate. Nancy Nevin announces that our American Legion Post 257 will resume summer lobster roll and clam chowder service on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The first night will be July 7 and then on through the summer. It always feels like home to me when I go to the Legion.

I am still a bit confused about fireworks. Are any scheduled for a place, date and time? Or are the dogs and I still going to be hearing them randomly in the neighborhood?

With great sadness, I announce the passing of a childhood friend, Billy Cook of White Plains, N.Y. Billy was a few years older than me in school at St. Bernard’s. He later became one of the many delightful owners of the popular bar, Foley’s, where most of us in the LoHud area, and our friends from Connecticut and New Jersey, went to get our first underage drink at a bar. Billy turned it into Cooks Tavern and was the most congenial host we could ever ask for. He welcomed us all and helped out many. Rest in peace, dear friend.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along Kelsey Rose, beautiful daughter of Deborah Di Santo, for her 10th birthday on June 21; Ashley Byrd celebrated on June 25; Joshua Baker observed June 27; Linda M. Cook and Sam Decker partied on June 28; James Cimeno claimed June 30; and, on July 2, Steve Doyle took the cake. Many happy returns.