Weather is often challenging during scallop season. The wind can be relentless. The air temperature can be too low to permit scallopers from harvesting. Air temperature must reach 30 degrees by 10 a.m. for the pond to open. January can certainly lend itself to frigid temperatures, but fortunately for scallopers the thermometer has been on their side. Menemsha Pond has been productive over the past month and a half-ish since commercial season opened, but the supply seems to be tapering off. Reaching that struck bushel proves to be more challenging as the days go on. Among others, the father-son team of Wayne and Vinny Iacono have brought countless pounds to market and to the dinner tables of many a friend and neighbor. We’re grateful for their perseverance.

While some folks are braving the New England weather, others are off running marathons in Florida. Skipper Manter has been a regular at Walt Disney World for decades. We often see him pacing himself, most often on Middle Road, and annually he takes himself to Orlando for Disney’s marathon weekend. The land of the mouse coordinates a 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon that wind through the creative world where classic cartoons and movies come alive. Skipper completed three out of the four races and had the energy to meet up with my family just prior to saying goodbye to the magical land where our imaginations came to life for the past week.

Eloise and Wren Christy are also focused on running. They direct their skills to shorter and faster races and both rose to the level defined as success this past week. According to their dad, Todd, the dynamic twins took the gold in short distance races that they haven’t run since high school. Eloise took top spot in the 600-meter and Wren in the 1000-meter. Multiple schools took to the track and field at the Snowflake Invitational hosted by Middlebury College in Vermont. The Christy twins are sophomores there. Congratulations.

The folks at Station Menemsha periodically recognizes their shipmates accomplishments. This past week the outstanding work of Caden Thomas, Connor Corey, Riley McIntosh and Rosemarie Noonan was celebrated. Their hard work at the station as well as their participation in community outreach rose above and beyond the and for that each received a certificate of accomplishment. Well done.

I met Sam Feldman about 30 years ago. I certainly can’t say that we were close, but acquainted with each other enough to know enough to carry on conversations about more than the weather. Each time we bumped into each other his smile would reach from ear to ear as he asked about my family’s well being. He’d often share about his ongoing projects, most fondly and passionately he referenced the National Widowers Organization spearheaded by him about a decade ago.

He compassionately reached out after Emmett’s death with words of condolences and offerings of emotional support should we need them. Sam was vibrant and lived life to, as folks often say, its fullest. Ninety-five years of wonder, amazement and success fill the chapters of his life book, but on January 8, 2025 the last chapter was written as his life came to an end.

His passion, drive and philanthropy will be missed, but may we all strive to keep his light shining within us.