The moon was full last Sunday and has made for a whole week of no flashlights needed at midnight. The moon was also in perigee. Which means that it was at its closest point of approach in its cock-eyed orbit around the earth. Being both full and in perigee created some very high tides. At the time of the highest tides during the first part of this week, even the average-sized waves washed over Norton Point, prompting The Trustees of Reservations to temporarily close that section of beach to vehicular passage. This narrowest section of beach is actually just a few hundred yards short of Wasque. My comment last week that the narrow section was roughly in the area where the 2007 breach occurred was incorrect.

I suggested that perhaps with all of the potential hurricanes forming off of Africa that Mother Nature might breach the beach again. But the fact that the narrowest and most breachable section is actually close to the closure point at Wasque makes the possibility even more intriguing. Let’s say that it does wash out just a few hundred yards from the most recent closing point. The time to reclose might be mere weeks. The Google Earth image of Chappaquiddick appears to have been taken sometime around the end of May. Very interesting to look at the historical images of the progress of Norton Point as it approached and attached to Wasque.

There are still a few activities happening at the Chappy Community Center. Tai chi will continue as long as Tom Parde is here. The foreign film offering for this Friday is the Spanish film Sin Nombre. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. with popcorn provided.

The CCC potluck suppers are back with the premiere scheduled for September 16. Wouldn’t you like to go down in history as the first potluck host of the 2015/2016 season? Contact Lynn at 508-627-8222 to sign up. Potlucks are held on the first and third Wednesdays with appetizers beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30. Bring a dish for six. We have a lot of catching up to do.

Those voracious readers of the Chappy book club will meet September 23 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss Erik Larson’s saga on the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania entitled Dead Wake.

Once again I have the honor of announcing a birth. Keira Ellen Lall was born in the early hours of the morning on August 8 with a full head of hair. She weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces. Her very delighted moms are Carolyn Lall and our own Sarah Free, horticulturist of the Mytoi Garden.

With hurricane season upon us it is time for another reminder about what happens when the U.S. Coast Guard closes the port of Edgartown to commercial marine traffic and the ferry has to stop regular service. We will always endeavor to be on hand for emergencies. As long as the weather isn’t too fierce we are allowed to make emergency runs. But if the extreme high tides or high winds make ferry operation too dangerous, remember that we always have a back-up plan to get emergency services to and from Chappy. That may involve other vessels that can land on Chappy in sheltered spots to evacuate a person in need of medical attention. You still dial 911 as usual to get help. If you dial 911 from a house phone you get all of the advantages of the 911 system such as automatic name and address. But if all that you have is a cell phone and you know where you are, you will get quicker service by dialing 508-693-1212. Dialing 911 from your cell phone may connect you to the state police over in America. You will need to explain that you live in Edgartown in Dukes County.

There still seems to be some confusion about getting in touch with the ferry if you have an emergency on Chappy during the night. Even if you don’t need an ambulance but just need to get to the hospital emergency room in your own car, you still want to call 911 or 508-693-1212. The ferry drivers have the same pagers as all of the other Dukes County emergency personnel and they are dispatched by the ever-vigilant folks at the communications center. I really wouldn’t mind hearing your voice on the phone at 3 a.m. but you will get a quicker response by calling 911. That’s who I would be calling, anyway, as soon as we hung up.

Send Chappy news to peter@chappyferry.net.