I realize it’s a lot more complicated than the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It has to do with axis, rotation, hemispheres, longitude, latitude and a whole lot more.

At the fall equinox, the sun rises due east and sets due west. It continues on its journey southward until, at the winter solstice, the sun rises as far to the south as it ever does, and sets as far to the southwest.

This week, from my view at work, the sunset has made its way back far enough to the south that it’s beginning to set over the land of Dogfish Bar. Fall is nearly upon us.

Sarah Shanok, Johnny and little Hazel Kitchens were in town from their home in Manhattan, along with sister Tovah Shanok and her toddling son Gabe, who traveled from their home in Germany. They joined sister Tory, her husband Will Dolan and their eldest daughter, Emma, to celebrate the lives of their parents, Susan and Bill Shanok, and to lay them to rest.

They were surrounded by family and friends who joined to reminisce and say farewell to the couple who were longtime fixtures in town, spanning from Susan’s early days as one of the original Galley Girls to Bill’s recent years strolling Menemsha with his pup, Beau. Their presence is noticeably missed.

Well wishes go out to Seth Ford, who had a little accident while splitting wood. It earned him a trip to Mass General, where surgery will, hopefully, allow him to mend back to like-new condition.

When the rains and winds blew last week, Heikki Soikkeli received a call that no boater wants to receive. His boat Louisa, moored in the pond had turtled. Louisa didn’t like what Mother Nature had dished out and she overturned as a result.

But Heikki is thankful to all those who participated in her de-watering and uprighting the following day. Among others, he sings the praises of Harbormaster Ryan Rossi, assistant harbormaster Spider Andresen, shellfish constable Isaiah Scheffer and his assistant Will Reich, Lev Wlodyka and members of the USCG Station Menemsha. If your name isn’t on this list, but you helped, please pat yourself on the back and know you’re appreciated.

After years of being devoted to each other, Dan Broderick and Claire Callagy declared their union officially at a ceremony on Sept. 11. A Middle Road barn, near what many locals refer to as the Great Wall of Chilmark, was the setting for friends and family all gussied up to share in the moment. Good food, great music by the Vineshakers, amazing people and a whole lot of laughter made the day a memorable one.

Dan’s dad, Steve, always drives around town with a smile on his face. But this week, it’s just a little bigger. Cheers to a bright future, Mr. and Mrs.

She may live in West Tisbury when she’s here, but Joanne Whitley spends enough time in town to gain mention. I had a wonderful chat with her the other day. She is here with her little white fluff ball of a pup and her brother who escaped the devastation in New Orleans, the place he calls home.

Happy anniversary to Sally and Peter Cook, who celebrated a milestone on September 9. Sixty years have passed since they tied the knot.

On a clear bright day in 1961, the couple joined hands at the home of Sally’s parents, the late Peggy and Henry Scott, on South Road. After entertaining a large wedding party with a lovely luncheon (some of you may recall having been there), an afternoon swim was taken in a turbulent south shore surf at Windy Gates.

The anniversary celebration was reminiscent of the original event, with their local family pod gathering at that same home and surrounded by family and friends from L.A. to Paris via Zoom. How fortunate they feel to live in that very same home where their life together began.

“Wow” is about the only response I can come up with after seeing the video of Devon Metters’ once-in-a-lifetime bluefin tuna catch by hand from shore.

Many of you know Devon in his role as first mate to Scott McDowell on the charter boat Lauren C. If you see him around the harbor, he will likely be wearing the “I can’t believe that happened” grin for a very long time, so give him a smile and a wow in return.

Tight lines, derby fishers. Share your stories. We want to hear them.