So many people have made the bold statement, “Summer is over.” I quickly snap to correct them by explaining schedules have changed but summer is still here and plenty of time remains to frolic at the beach, cast a lure, go swimming, surfing, boating and simply partake in all of the same adventurous behavior that took place in July. It’s simple to do but, yes, schedules have changed.

Tavira, Arlo and Scout Allen-Posin along with cousins Zelda and Audrey Binney brought some of that lighthearted and carefree behavior to Squid Row this past week. Chaperoned by their grandmother Marcy, the barefoot band of merry joymakers ate ice cream, drew with chalk, told stories and enjoyed examining the fish and crabs in the touch tank. School for these members of the next generation began on Monday and I can only imagine it was as exciting as our visit.

Winston Elliston stopped by for an ice cream and a visit to the touch tank with his mom, Julia Spiro. Winston had his very first day of preschool and, from what I understand, he enjoyed it. I was glad he had an opportunity to visit the tank before it got scrubbed and packed away for the off season.

It’s always hard to decide how long to let a good thing go for. After careful consideration, the Texaco touch tank has been put on a schedule. It follows the school year and gets put out on the dock when kids are released from school. It gets packed away when kids head back to the classroom. Although there are plenty of days in between that it might be enjoyed, it seems this is sensible. The tank is packed up and will rejoin the crab-catching kiddos come June.

Katie Loveluck and her partner Sarah paid a visit after managing to grab a couple of days off from her rigorous schedule at UMass Chan Medical School, where she’s in her first year of a general surgery residency. It’s nice to have her back on the east coast after she did a stint at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan. She just might be able to enjoy her family’s North Road home a little more often.

After celebrating her birthday and gallivanting with friends for a college reunion — including a lovely woman named Roxana whom I had the pleasure of meeting — Abbe Burt packed up her belongings at her up-Island retreat and headed back to Vineyard Haven with sweet pup Sadie in tow.

Abbe’s story of vacationing a mere 12 or so miles from home reminded me of hearing stories from Great-Grandma Bette Carroll about how they’d winter at the big house in North Tisbury and summer at their camp in Menemsha. It made me think about how much things have changed yet, if you look closely, there are still glimmers of what once was and it brings me hope that we might be able to retain some of that character and simplicity.

Although fishing has become more complex over the years with epoxy jigs and snap swivels and fluorocarbon, the simple passion of chasing the hard tails remains. The five-week-long 78th annual derby has begun and with it comes camaraderie, running down the dock with a rod in hand, and the need for a little OxiClean for stain removal in the white shirt a teenager chose to wear while in the midst of an albie blitz.

There are a few familiar names on the board, including team Albie Snacking comprised of Lathrop Keene and Aiden Olsen. At the time of my writing the duo sat in fourth place. Latham Kurth weighed in a 10.21-pound boat bluefish, earning him a first place daily and an opportunity to see his name in the first place mini-junior overall spot. Zeb Athearn landed himself a nice bonito on day one, giving him a chance to see his name in the second-place spot.

The names on the leader boards may change, but the level of excitement is a constant.