In the early morning hours on Tuesday, I lay listening to the thunder rolling across the Atlantic with its flashes of lightning brightening up the dawn hours. As I listened, I wondered what it might be like to experience this from 100 or so miles offshore. This came to mind since the night before, under a clear sky, Brooks headed to the canyons for his first big offshore multi-day adventure aboard f/v Sinful. He waved from the stern with a great big grin not knowing quite what to expect but knowing it was an experience not many have.

Siblings don’t always work well together but the team at Menemsha Texaco appreciated Lily and Charlotte Bernhard for their positive working relationship. The teens, who summer with their parents, Jill and Ted, and younger sister, Katharine, returned to London where they live, work and go to school. Along with both being great conversationalists, Charlotte has a knack for baking which, of course, will be missed. Who doesn’t like fresh-baked cookies?

Vineyard Independence Partnership, or V.I.P., will host a yard sale at the former site of Chilmark Chocolates on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Available items will include collectible Chilmark Chocolates T-shirts and mugs, along with individual art made by V.I.P. members such as cards, studio art and woven materials. Mary Beth Grady and Allison Berger have played a pivotal role in V.I.P.’s goal of partnering individuals with disabilities with a wide range of opportunities including athletics, arts, travel and more.

Bill and Zee Gamson were back in Chilmark with our Newton family for 10 days recently. They stayed on Bijah’s Way and entertained friends outdoors on one of the decks at the house, had outdoor meals and, as Zee referred to it, had a generally jolly time with their daughter, Jenny, and her husband, Steve.

Their grown children also visited. Ari, 23, recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin having studied international relations and Spanish. Maya, 21, is a senior at Oberlin College. Gilad, 25, a graduate of Brown with a master’s in teaching, is an English teacher at the Beacon School in Manhattan. Gilad’s girlfriend, Rachel, also joined the family fun.

Proud father, Sergio Modigliani, shares that his son David’s short documentary film, Dress Rehearsal, premiers online Thursday, August 20, during the final night of the Democratic National Convention. From there on, it can be viewed on the online streaming platform, Alamo.

A graveside service will be held on Sunday, August 23 at 1 p.m. at Abel’s Hill for Suzanne (Fischer) Bunker. She left us earlier in the month and this weekend is an opportunity to share stories and memories about someone who lived life so vividly.