Ron Mitchell of Oak Bluffs is the new owner and publisher of the Bay State Banner, Boston’s newspaper serving inner city issues and news. This past weekend he hosted a “down home” fish fry with shrimp, calamari and porgies. The porch, the cottage and the yard was full of friends and family who enjoyed the food and conversation. The newspaper can now be picked up from paper racks placed at Union Chapel and elsewhere on Circuit avenue.

Teresa Clarke treated more than 40 guests at her Ocean Park cottage for a splendid fireworks party. She served gourmet burgers that were turkey, plant, chicken and beef-based. The dessert trays of key lime pie and chocolate cupcakes were served just before the fireworks started. Special guest Dorothy Terrell from Miami Beach shared updates on the art and cultural goings-on in south Florida, especially in the popular Edgewater neighborhood in Miami.

Congratulations to the Boston chapter of GirlFriends who hosted another star-studded, lobster-filled luncheon under the tent at Chef Deon’s. This event is organized by Karen Holmes Ward, Kim Ware, Gail Jackson Blount, Michelle Carroll, Angela Motley, Karen James, Shawnda Walker, Erica White and Kathy Taylor.

The post-luncheon cocktails under the sun at Cindy Carter’s house kept the party going with music and chatter of college school days, fueled by her signature etouffee spiced with crawfish!

Dwight Perry, the national president of the National Association of Guardsmen from North Carolina, was saluted at a cocktail party in East Chop last week. Members from Boston, Brooklyn, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Manhattan attended.

Waldo and Rita Faulkner of Brooklyn hosted an intimate dinner party last week with a battery of seafood dishes from beginning to end. The lobster corn chowder was clearly the winner from an outstanding medley of dishes.

Fred Lowery hosted more than 90 Omega brothers under his tent gathering to celebrate grand basileus Ricky Lewis from California. This was one of many Divine 9 events that included national leaders from all the Black Greek-letter organizations during this past week. See you in 2024!

Congratulations to Petrina Martin Cherry and Dr. Theo James from Boston Medical Center who hosted three public forums this summer focusing on health equity, closing the wealth gap and social justice. Their panel on solutions for integrating the life science industry in Boston featured Kenn Turner, leader of the Massachusetts Life Science Center. His astute understanding of the industry and insight on practical programs offered by Malik Yoba of Yoba Development and Rev. Willie Bodrick of the American City Coalition was particularly instructive.

Willie Clemmons EdD, formerly of Morehouse School of Medicine and now in Sarasota, joined with Patti West to host an afternoon soirée in Oak Bluffs. Willie’s special guests included Billye Aaron, wife of the late great Hank Aaron. Ms. Aaron comes to the Vineyard well escorted by friends Tom Morehead, Michael Melton and Jesse Tyson, all sailing from Sag Harbor, Newport, Nantucket and finally the Vineyard.

Pam Ogletree and children Charles Ogletree 3rd and Rashida Ogletree-George hosted many broken hearts as they laid to rest their brilliant husband and father last Saturday at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, Md. The Vineyard will always cherish his memory and carry on his mission of a more perfect union by offering the Charles Ogletree Public Forum Series.

Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as time is fleeting. Randall Edward Taylor, rest in peace.