Despite this sultry August weather making way for ideal beach days, it has left me longing for a rain day. The brown crunch of the grass beneath my feet and the dusty grime that covers nearly every surface are known associates of the dog days of summer. We need a good, soaking rain to make way for the next period of time known as both Fair week and back to school days.

College kids and folks with school-age children are slowly beginning to say their goodbyes. College sophomore Will Dolan has departed, bound for another year at the University of Alabama. I can’t help but say “Roll Tide.”

While celebrating his 97th birthday, Bob Ganz noted that in three short years he will celebrate 100. That’s a triple digit birthday. His birthday was filled with phone calls from family and friends far and wide, all hoping to celebrate in person next year.

Notably, he and Ann will be surrounded by extra good cheer as they revel in 60 years of marriage. According to daughter Claire it was a pleasant surprise to have niece Emily Coggins and her son Matthew visit to extend birthday wishes; they are normally in Bar Harbor working their store, Ben and Bill’s. Also, niece Grace Scarano and her son Noah traveled from Maryland a day early to share in celebration.

An August regular is back, sitting for spells on Squid Row. Morgan Shipway, whose one of many claims to fame is being Tyler’s grandfather, has been and will continue to be puttering around town for a measurable number of days. Morgan managed to convince his son Emmett to also pay a brief visit and, lucky me, I had a chance to say hello.

The first week of August was chock full of town events just a hop, skip and jump from our front doors. The firefighter’s Backyard Bash was a wonderful success, with Josh Aronie bringing up his Food Truck to take the place of the temporarily short-staffed department.

The very next day the Fishermen’s Preservation Trust hosted Meet the Fleet in Menemsha. Thanks go out to all the folks who participated, including local fishermen, USCG and more. And a shout out to Tubby Medeiros for donating the life raft that was a centerpiece in the survival drill with a most noticeable side piece of competition amongst the participants. A big “way to go” goes to Otto Osmers for winning the sea scallop shucking competition.

Our West Tisbury neighbor and New Lane Sundries head honcho Linda Alley shares that during the week of the Fair — Wednesday, August 17 and Saturday August 20 — the Farmers Market will be held at its former stomping grounds, the Grange Hall.

Copies of Doug Cabral’s My Shenandoah about Captain Robert Douglas and his schooner now take up space on the shelves at Ginny Jones’s Focs’le Locker. Supplies are limited and will likely fly off said shelves pretty quickly. Be sure to stop by or reach out to Ginny at islandgirlwt@gmail.com to coordinate getting your copy.

Speaking of writing, Nancy Aronie’s last summer Chilmark Writing Workshop is scheduled for August 15 through 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. Although I haven’t participated in one myself, from what I hear it isn’t just about writing: Nancy provides an opportunity for folks to connect with kindred spirits.

Chilmark summer softball is in full swing — yes, I chose those words for an obvious reason — Sunday mornings at Flanders field. The first bat is swung at 8:30-ish and, hopefully, with it a ball goes flying.

New players are always welcomed so Ted Bernhard and eldest daughter Lily gave it a go. In summary, they had a wonderful morning and plan to participate more than once. Lily’s days in Chilmark are waning as she prepares to head off to her freshman year at Bowdoin.