Last Sunday was a perfect beach day and my first expedition to Lucy Vincent Beach for the season. The stunning coastline was resplendent, and with July still 10 days away, only a small crowd was gathered at the beach. I was pleased to note that a cozy blanket of sand had been magically/meteoroligically restored, and getting past the eroded cliff line was not a major obstacle. I also noted that the dunes that had separated Chilmark Pond from the Atlantic ocean had been vanquished by Mother Nature, leaving the volleyball area an expansive, sandy stretch.

Harry and Rose, two dear friends, asked if they could come up this summer as houseguests because, as they put it, they have “heard so much about the Vineyard that we want to see it for ourselves.” I replied this way.

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Dear Harry and Rose,

Ann and I were thrilled to hear you wanted to visit us on the Vineyard this summer. Please do come, as we know you’ll love it as much as we do.

A medication return box, a safe place to dispose of unused or outdated medications, has been installed at the Tisbury police station. The drop box is the second medication disposal station on the Island.

The new drop box, which was brought to the police station in early June, was paid for by the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Task Force and the Tisbury board of health. The Edgartown police station also has a medication disposal site.

Rowdy dogs and lackadaisical pet owners, time to shape up: Oak Bluffs has an animal control officer back on the job.

Rowdy dogs and lackadaisical pet owners, time to shape up: Oak Bluffs has an animal control officer back on the job.

Anthony BenDavid was appointed to the post at the selectmen’s meeting Tuesday.

“He’s available at night, he’s available during the day,” police chief Erik Blake told the selectmen. “He couldn’t have come more highly recommended.”

For 43 years, he’s led the annual Fourth of July parade through the streets of Edgartown. But next week’s festivities will be Fred B. (Ted) Morgan Jr.’s last as grand marshal and organizer of the patriotic display.

Mr. Morgan announced that it would be his last year at the Monday selectmen’s meeting this week.

Everyone in the town hall meeting room rose to their feet as the Tisbury selectmen held an official swearing-in ceremony Tuesday for new permanent police officers Ryan Natichioni and Jeremie Rogers.

“We wanted to have them come before the town . . . so their families could be here to honor them for their willingness to serve our community.” said selectman and board chairman Tristan Israel.

The historic Mill Pond Dam in West Tisbury will undergo a comprehensive study this summer due to a state requirement that the dam to be reviewed every five years.

At their weekly meeting on Wednesday, West Tisbury selectmen authorized spending $1,000 on the study. The money is largely for administrative fees associated with filing the report to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Town dam inspector and civil engineer Kent Healy will perform the inspection with help from surveyor Bill Austin.

Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic candidate for the United State senate from Massachusetts, will make an appearance on the Vineyard at a fundraiser

Police Search for Gun

Police from around the Island were called to the town of Tisbury early Tuesday afternoon following reports of a man carrying a gun, though Tisbury police said a search yielded nothing, and it was unclear if there was ever a gun in the first place.

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, once said, “My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy.” Were Mr. Jefferson able to come to the Vineyard today, he might amend that assessment.