Despite a foggy morning, which promised a slow start to the 78th Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, Kevin Seger was waiting patiently in line at 8 a.m. Sunday with a 3.46-pound bonito cementing its status as first fish of this year’s derby.

Rhonda Persip celebrated her birthday at a small party in Oak Bluffs with friends Cheryl Grimes, Carolyn Hebsgaard, Kim Washington, Caroline Hunter and a host of other friends.

Developer Reid (Sam) Dunn added fireplaces to three condominium units at his Stone Bank mixed-use property in Vineyard Haven without approval by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, which voted Thursday to deny his after-the-fact request to keep the amenities in place.

Petar Petyoshin, who was arrested in May for allegedly stealing more than $21,000 from the Davis Straits Rockland Trust, signed a plea agreement with prosecutors earlier this summer.

Mornings offer plenty of planet watching this month. In the wee hours of Monday morning take a look towards the eastern skyline. Well before sunrise you'll see the brilliant planet Venus and not too far away a thin crescent moon. Both are in the zodiacal constellation Cancer, a constellation we associate with more often with late winter.

Photography may not be Tim DeWitt’s full-time job, but finding the perfect scene often takes up a full day for the landscape photographer.

Stephanie Pacheco finished her first summer as the new executive of The Yard last month, but she's already conjuring up plans to make the art residency program more active in the off-season.

Four and a half years ago, I took to task the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP over a matter that goes to the heart of the organization’s work.

A million kudos and thanks to the Tisbury fire department and police for saving us from kitchen fire.

To Trader Fred

Editors, Vineyard Gazette;

Trader Fred was not only the kindest and most generous man, but he was also the greatest storyteller ever. To have a cocktail and cigar with him and hear him spin his embracingly entertaining tales was to relish life itself.

Just last month he told me and a few friends of story that had our heads spinning with delight and amusement. Freddy was truly one of a kind and we are all grateful for knowing him. Not just that, but probably half of us are wearing his clothes right now.