Quite often, my dear friend Carl Leaf and I would sit a spell on Squid Row. He’d indulge in an ice cream sandwich or, perhaps, a Klondike Bar and grill me about this place or that in Waltham. Although 40 years apart, we’d both spent our childhoods in Waltham. Carl loved to talk about the Totem Pole Ballroom.

After a couple of conversations worth of his descriptions, it finally occurred to me that the structure still exists and is now a canoe rental spot on the Charles River just over the town line in Newton. I know the location well and now have firsthand stories of the once-famous entertainment spot that folks used to go to and woo their sweethearts to the sounds of some well-known big bands.

I join with so many others who knew Carl in offering our deepest sympathy on his passing. The measure of a life well lived can be heard in stories and seen in photographs. He was liked and loved and will be missed by many, including me. His son Gus said it well when he expressed Carl’s passing as “the cigar is out.”

Carl’s life was celebrated on Thursday, Jan. 27 at Grace Episcopal Church and then he was laid to rest alongside his dear Audrey. I circle in to Abel’s Hill from time to time to visit old friends. It saddens me to think I now have one more to say hello to. But as the days go by, the memories of our times laughing together and swapping stories will overshadow and bring smiles.

While supplies last, town residents may pick up Covid-19 test kits from the board of health office at the Chilmark town hall on Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Please park in the main town hall lot accessed from Middle Road then walk to the front of the building and enter the main door facing Beetlebung Corner. Please do not park in the emergency services lot. Wear a mask when you step inside the building. Please be considerate and take only one kit per person. If you cannot pick up or send a designee during these time periods, please contact the board of health office at (508) 645-2105.

Congratulation to Jody Bowen who was nominated as Station Menemsha’s sailor of the quarter. He was nominated by his peers for all the hard work and assistance he provided to his shipmates and the engineering department.

The folks at Station Menemsha also shout out a special thank you to the USO for its generous donation of care packages. It looked as though they get some good sweets and snacks delivered. Well-deserved goodies after a stint out on the water doing some cold weather training.

Back in the day Gerry Keen would pull into Menemsha on his boat, Odontoblast. He and his wife Lisa had two little kids. Those little kids have grown up. Kelly and her husband Tyler Andresen have two adorable kiddos, Violet and Casey. The big news this week is that Sean just proposed to his longtime love, Jordan. Congratulations to the beautiful couple and the whole extended family. What fun. What joy.

Scott McDowell has been tinkering in his Copperworks shop. He’s set aside working on copper fish for the time being and has cut out a lobster boat. This particular piece is going to be mechanical. He’s making progress. You may wonder who his model is and, of course, it is none other than John Larsen’s Summer Dawn.

I’m glad to hear Bret Stearns had an opportunity to hold, cuddle and plan future outings with his tiny grandson Lucas. Babies, even when they cry, bring a tremendous amount of joy — especially to grandparents. To top it off, grandchildren are a great excuse to do some fun and silly stuff.