Edward Taylor Coombs grew up spending summers on the Vineyard with his parents, grandmother, uncles, aunts and cousins in Oak Bluffs. He enjoyed the frivolity at Niantic Park, Inkwell Beach, the courts and, of course, running up and down Circuit avenue. He was an outstanding student athlete and was recruited to play Division I lacrosse at Marist College in New York. At home in Horsham, Pa. between his freshman and sophomore year, he was in a car accident that took him much too early.

The loss of this gifted young man was the vehicle to turn deep grief into a permanent opportunity to raise scholarship funds for future student athletes. The Edward Taylor Coombs Foundation hosted its 11th annual golf outing on July 18 at the Commonwealth National Golf Club. Oak Bluffs residents Sherman and Renee Smith, Ed and Shirley Redd, Jonevan Hornsby, Kathy Taylor, Brian and Caroline Taylor Ellerson joined in the festivities.

The foundation has given out more than $700,000 in scholarships to student athletes. The 2022 recipients will be attending Penn State, Howard University, High Point University, Villanova and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among other educational institutions. Congrats to the recipients and kudos to Erin Coombs, Eric and Tina Coombs for their courage in leading this foundation in honor of their son and brother. Gone but not forgotten!

Charlotte, N.C. was the site of the national conclave of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity during the past week. Vineyard residents Fred Lowery, Darryl Settles, Calvin Butts, Michael Charles, Ted Greer, Bennett Gaines and Michael Johnson were among the 10,000 people who gathered for the 83rd Grand Conclave. This organization counts Dr. Benjamin Mays, Vernon Jordan, Earl Graves, Roy Wilkins, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Dr, Charles Drew, Roland Hayes, Ronald McNair, Dr. Percy Julian and so many more luminaries among its members.

The convention focused on issues of health in urban America, the Fatherhood Initiative and voting to establish science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) events as a nationally mandated program, were among the highlights of the gathering. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the event and met with the supreme council to share her vision of America. The business leadership noted that this was the largest convention to come to Charlotte since 2014.

This Saturday — July 30 — please come out to support Della Hardman Day at 4 p.m. on the sprawling grass at Ocean Park. Special guests include photojournalist and author Chester Higggins Jr. as well as Dr. Haki Madhubuti, poet and publisher of Third World Press. Come out in the open air, see old friends, meet new acquaintances, listen to readings and enjoy this magnificent public space.

Sunday services at Union Chapel will be led this Sunday by Rev. Arthur Jones, the senior pastor of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Plano, Tex., where he presides over a congregation of 8,000 people. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas and Duke Divinity School and is the co-author of Ask: Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age. Church begins at 10 a.m.

Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as life is fleeting.