I believe there is nowhere in the world where one is more conscious of the value of each day than in New England. It is a place that is steeped in tradition and rich in history and culture. It has an abundance of natural beauty from forest to coastline. There are distinct seasons that each offer a unique sense of beauty and opportunities. Living in New England one can escape the day-to-day, ho hum without really traveling all that far.

The youngest traveler I’ve had the pleasure of visiting with is eight-month -old Emersyn Elkins. She traveled from Georgia with her moms, Markel and Heather Johnstone. With a minor variation in spelling, the wide-eyed and smily little gal is named after her late great-grandfather William Emerson Gilmour. Time at the family home on Larsen Lane is being thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Off-Island travel was filled with excitement anticipation and wedded bliss for the Poole family this past weekend. Alex, eldest son of Patty and Matt, with younger brother Ben officiating, tied the knot with Lauren O’Neill in front of a small group of close friends and family. Alex’s sister Natalie was also in attendance as vows were exchanged at the Arlington Town Hall garden. Plans for a big, whoop-it-up party in late July are in the works. Alex, back in the day, was part of the Menemsha Texaco workforce. Why is that an important tidbit?

That is an important tidbit, because Sawyer Rothmann, also a former Texaco summertime staffer, married his sweetheart, too. Sawyer and Nicole DellaPasqua began their days of wedded bliss surrounded by family and friends at a not-too-distant destination wedding at Outlook Farm in Berwick, Me. They managed to cover the better part of New England with pre and post parties over the border in Portsmouth, N.H. The fabulous couple will continue to call Boston home.

Well wishes go out to fire chief Jeremy Bradshaw, who took an unanticipated helicopter ride to Boston after suffering a hand injury. He spent the better part of a week hospitalized, but was thankfully sent home where, as we all know, healing happens faster. Home is, after all, where the heart is.

Unleashing the Seven Secrets to the Perfect Personal Essay: Crafting the Story Only You Can Write is what Nancy Aronie will get up and talk about of Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall. She invites us to celebrate her book surrounded by writing marvels from Kate Feiffer to Kate Taylor and plenty in between. It’s a ticketed event so plan ahead.

Travel to Menemsha is something that many of us treasure. Some get to do it daily and others once a year. The Menemsha Commercial Dock Repair or Replacement Working Group invites us to participate in an online survey aiming to gather feedback on potential improvement options for the Commercial Dock in Menemsha Harbor. Your responses will assist in assessing the future for Chilmark’s commercial dock, whether through repair or replacement. Travel to the survey. Share your voice. Remember, Menemsha’s special charm is due to its geography, views, scale, architecture and authenticity as a small fishing village. The Chilmark Master Plan outlines the primary goals of retaining the visual character of the area, and Menemsha as a commercial fishing port. The survey can be found as a link on the town website or at surveymonkey.com/r/GNW6DC6.

There are many milestones in life, but none quite as monumental as a graduation. It represents the end of an era, an accomplishment, and a transition from one life stage to the next. For the graduate, it’s hard-earned and sometimes bittersweet. For friends and loved ones, it’s a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of someone dear. As Maya Angelou said: “Life loves to be taken by the lapel and be told, ‘I am with you kid. Let’s go!’”

Three cheers go out to the high school grads, many who have sat side-by-side since their days at the Chilmark School including Laila Fenner, Charlotte Scott, Hayden Higgins, Rodeo Purves-Langer, Katherine and Elizabeth Chvatal, Billie Vanderhoop Shepherd, Quinlan Slavin, Delilah Oliver, Westley Wlodyka and Finnegan MacLeod.