In the Age of Brooke, the Labor Day Weekend was considered by many in the Oak Bluffs village as the final weekend of the summer season. The weekend featured a four-day tennis tournament sponsored by the Oak Bluffs Tennis Club. The matches were played at Niantic Park, the Island Inn and the Tucker courts. Cocktail parties, a boat ride, dancing at Lola’s were all part of the weekend activities.

As the decades moved on into the Age of Obama, tennis gave way to golf, and more and more people began to live year-round on the Island helping to significantly increase residency into the shoulder seasons of the fall months of October and November.

Gus and Millie Anglin with dear friends Laura and Manny (Bobo) Horne, long time Oak Bluffs residents, recruited others to debut the Inkwell Picnic over a decade ago, to be held on the Saturday of Indigenous Peoples Day. The idea was for people to cook up, mix up and bake up the last bit of food items in the refrigerator and the freezer before closing up for the season. Everybody brings their contribution and it makes for a splendid potpourri of meats, fish, chicken, salads, deviled eggs, mac and cheese, rice and beans and desserts of cakes and pies and so much more.

Stephen Anglin, mostly know for the Martha’s Vineyard Soulfest, and his pal Hank Bell have now assumed the responsibility for managing this annual celebration. They were on the grill with hotdogs, hamburgers and grilled chicken while the ever-reliable Carleen Cordell did a fabulous job managing a host of volunteers serving and replenishing the buffet table — all under the watchful eye of the creators of this annual event, with over 300 this year enjoying the sun and fun filled day.

Chief Polar Bear Caroline Hunter has decided to finally establish the long talked about Oak Bluffs Homeowners Association. In between conversations and laughter at the picnic, she was managing a sign-up sheet at the end of the buffet table. Please see her for details.

Those attending the intimate 48th wedding anniversary dinner for Elliott and Shirley Hall in Harthaven were in for a surprise announcement. Their daughter Tiffany Hall, Esq. was recently appointed global general counsel at the $450 billion dollar MasterCard corporation. The companies corporate reach spans to 220 locations around the world. We all join the proud parents in saluting Tiffany as she packs her bags for this international business opportunity.

Oak Bluffs and Florida real estate broker Sharon Graham was back on the Island from Sarasota during the storms of Helene and Milton. She remained in constant contact with the more than 20 or so Vineyard families that live in Sarasota, Naples, Orlando, Miami and other parts of Florida during the winter months. Sharon reports minimal damage to property and many have returned to Florida to begin some semblance of normalcy. Prayers still get answered.

Lewis Duane Jackson celebrated his 75th birthday with a surprise dinner hosted by his wife Debbie, son Dana and his wife Sara this past Sunday night. The guests included Vineyard friends, Ron and Charleen Carroll, David and Ann Marie Wilkins and Kathy Taylor. Bosom buddy Hassell McClellan showered LDJ with legendary adult beverages and reminded him of how much more work he needs to do on his golf game. Great food, creative libations and heartfelt testimony from his wife and son punctuated this wonderful cerebration.

Woody Bowman reminds all that the 34th annual MV CROP Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 20. Interested walkers can join 100-plus other volunteers at 1:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven for the three-mile walk to the Lagoon Bridge and back.

The East Chop Tennis Club recruited a robust group of members and their families to put up the shutters, move in the court benches and bolt down the doors for the winter sojourn. Many thanks to the many hands that made the work light.

Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as life is fleeting.

Randall Edward Taylor, Rest in Peace.