One week ago, Brooks headed offshore on f/v Sinful. Captain Mike Hamilton, Derek Macintyre, Craig Munsell and Alex Graham took him under their wings and introduced him to the world of tuna fishing. He spent a week on the continental shelf catching fish, making memories, using a dog for a pillow and perfecting his ramen cooking skills. Just as the sun was setting and just as I expected, he came home standing and walking just a little bit taller in shorts that were so grungy they could have probably walked by themselves.
It will be a while before newborn Henry Otto Coutinho is walking by himself, yet I’m pleased to pass along the news that he made his way into the world on August 15. Proud parents Jenna (Zechner) and Cody Coutinho, both big baseball fans, share his stats as 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 20 inches long. I’m not sure if he’s going to be a righty or a southpaw. That question can be left unanswered for the time being. His life is going to be full of love with grandparents, Linda and Robert Coutinho, nearby and a very excited great grandmother, Margaret Maida, at the ready from her Menemsha Crossroads home.
Liane Fitzgerald, daughter of Kathy Cerrick and Charles, turned her love for the beach into a business. Handmade with love, Roy Bikini took off over the past couple of years with lots of locals sporting the look. Liane has spent the past few winters in the Santa Cruz, Calif. area. Sadly, the place she called her winter home was consumed by fire along with the homes of many of her friends. She, along with her artist friends in the Santa Cruz area, have pooled their wares into carefully and thoughtfully curated items to be raffled off in a fundraising effort. If you have an Instagram account, check out the details at RoyBikini or contact her through her website at royswim.com.
Today, Friday, August 28, is the 21st anniversary of the Jus Chillin’ boat explosion. I think back to that day quite often and, although it was truly traumatizing, there was something fabulous that came out of it. It was a day that our community pulled together and gave selflessly of themselves when we were in need.
The alarms were sounded and it was all hands on deck that morning when Menemsha felt like chaos. I remember returning to the Texaco after a few hours at the emergency room to find the blown-out windows boarded over, the broken glass and debris swept up, and friends ready to greet me with hugs and offers to do anything that was needed. As much as I wouldn’t want to recreate that day I would also treasure feeling that true sense of community again. Thank you to all who went above and beyond to have our backs. You know who you are. I am grateful.
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