Week one of August got off to a hazy, hot start. This type of weather is pretty typical, but having a hurricane tromping up the eastern seaboard added to the frenzied pace we’ve already been feeling. Although Isaias will likely spare us for the most part, his presence prompted an exercise in preparedness.

He did a stint in Menemsha some years ago. He smiled a lot, was very friendly, community-oriented and truly dedicated to his job. He went from being at USCG Menemsha to the Polar Star out of Seattle then to cutter Liberty with his home base in Juneau, Alaska. In that time, he married his sweetheart, Shannon, and they’ve been joined by son, Logan, who really isn’t so little anymore. After spending just over 20 years serving in the Coast Guard, Matt Sponable chose retirement. Congratulations to you all and enjoy the next phase of life.

Another mention of the Polar Star is necessary. After finishing his four-year tour at Station Menemsha and a trip to visit family in Pennsylvania, Joel Behr continued his way across the country. I know I mentioned a farewell to him a while back but I just heard from him and he’s settled into life in Seattle and has begun his adventure aboard the 75,000-horsepower heavy icebreaker Polar Star.

August 1 marked the 92nd anniversary of Don Smith’s birthday. One of the unfortunate side effects of our current state of pandemic is that Uncle Don doesn’t have the opportunity to hang out in the Texaco, telling me stories of the good old days. Although I didn’t have the chance to visit with him at length, I did wish him a happy day in person as he made his daily buzz of the bight. He celebrated in style with a few close loved ones and an evening cocktail.

This is the week we would have had the opportunity to enjoy the sixth-annual Meet the Fleet hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust. Sadly, due to the unfortunate and unwelcome Covid-19, the chance to wander the dock talking to local captains about life on the water and the pleasure they take in bringing seafood back to the dock for us to grace our dinner tables have been put on the back burner.

However, thanks to the great efforts of executive director, Shelley Edmundson, her three-and-a-half-month-old son, Willis, right-hand gal, Elissa Turnbull, members of the board of directors along with the collaboration effort of Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival Production’s Ollie Becker, the event has gone virtual.

Five short films spotlighting local commercial fishermen will be shared periodically throughout August and September to the nonprofits’ supporters. If you find all of this interesting and would like to get on the mailing list, please send your request to mvfishermen@gmail.com for details. If you’d like to step it up a notch and make a donation to a nonprofit dedicated to working with our local fisherman, and you do so before August 9, you can look forward to a whole bunch of fun perks.

Susie Fischer Bunker was one of those people who encompassed every characteristic of a fantastic personality. She was outspoken, heartfelt, true to her word, spitfire-y, kind and everything in between. After fighting hard to keep her lungs functioning she lost her battle and has ended her walk on earth. Her presence will be missed and I will think of her each time her beautiful rooster crows in my chicken yard.