Whenever they bring lobsters to unload in Menemsha, David and Michelle of fishing vessel Honi Do sit a spell on Squid Row with coffee in hand and tell stories, most often of their wintry Vermont adventures filled with mountains, snow, skiing and baking. Michele typically spends quiet time knitting, but not on this trip. She injured her finger so her knitting needles are stowed for the time being. Somehow this makes me treasure my fingerless mittens gifted to me just a bit more.

I spotted a familiar minivan with North Carolina plates. I immediately smiled when I realized Jane Neumann was back in town. I always appreciate our conversations even when in email form. Jane makes me laugh, smile, contemplate and look forward to our next chit-chatty encounter.

It feels as if Monty Buffington has been at Station Menemsha for a lifetime. He’s just one of those fun-loving souls who always wears a smile and is up for a pleasant conversation. The time has come, however, for him to move on. Sitka, Alaska will be his new base of operation. Being a part of the aids to navigation team will be his day to day responsibility. Good luck, Monty. Keep in touch.

It’s like an old-fashioned strawberry festival at Lydia Fischer’s The Garden Farm stand on Menemsha Crossroad. She has managed to keep the just-picked strawberries well stocked and I, admittedly, had nearly an entire pint for dinner the other night. Laugh if you want but, like chips, you can’t just eat one.

With Lydia’s sweet strawberries in the center of town, it’s Bob Ganz who is representing the north side of town with his sweet green peas. Not only did he once again win the first peas contest again this year at Morning Glory Farm, but he’s still picking the plentiful crop. Claire has been helping and, after realizing her fingers seem to be dyed green, wondered if that’s maybe where the old saying about a green thumb originated.

Jean Kantrowitz, longtime summer resident of Chilmark, celebrated her 100th birthday at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Saturday, May 29 with her extensive Kantrowitz, Goldman and Fankuchen family surrounding her. Sheep Pen Lane residents Sam, Alexa, Alex, Peter, Olivia and Elliott Fankuchen were in attendance, adding to an already exciting day.

Violet and Casey Andresen steamed into Menemsha Harbor this past weekend along with their parents Kelly and Tyler to visit grandparents Sarah and Spider Andresen. Their presence always brings smiles, great joy and a whole lot of laughter to the Frog Alley home.

It’s been a while but Barbara and George McLaughlin also steamed into the harbor on their boat, Grumpy. Although they were quite occupied tooling around with Margaret Maida, I did manage a fleeting hello.

Greta and Jack Lenkner, with pup and parents Erin and Travis in tow, have made their way from Chicago via Erin’s fellowship adventure in Venice. Jack and Greta are regulars at the Texaco and we always look forward to hearing about life seen through Jack’s eyes. I’ve already learned a lot about gondoliers from the one conversation we’ve had. Be sure to ask this kindergarten grad the next time you see him. Grandmother Betsy Delaney sure is thrilled to have them in town.

The extended Anne Verret-Speck and Forrest Speck family has been back on Creek Hill for, I believe, summer thirty-nine. Three generations have been crabbing, meandering, ice cream eating and frolicking in the sunshiny bliss June has offered. The excitement of grandkids Esmé, Imogen, Hal and Wally is eye catching from passerbys and a reason for grandparents to embrace their youthful side.

It’s that time of year again when graduates are pomp and circumstancing their way to center stage for applause and fanfare on a job well done. Maybeline Brown, Emily Treitman-Conti, Lucy Doyle, Kelso Gilman, Rasmus Mayhew, Moses Thomson, Dylan Waldman, Annalee Wike and Genevieve Wise will each give their Chilmark School fifth grade graduation speech, eat cake and be doted on a little extra as they prepare to make their way to middle school. Congratulations to all.