Peter Simon is my hero! Nonna doesn’t get out for many excursions anymore, but last Sunday we planned a big day. It involves the walker, the wheelchair and the handicapped sticker for the truck. We began with the always entertaining Chicken Alley Art Show. Cheyenne, Monique, Nonna and I went and enjoyed meeting all our friends, as well as new acquaintances. Cheyenne was a great help with the footstool, wheelchair and walker conundrum.

Cool nights — that’s what we live for after hot summer nights. Cool sheets and pillow cases and a good night’s sleep. We have had some great nights and very nice days. Who could ask for more? Happy Birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Brandon Steigelman, who celebrated his day August 18, Taylor Fauteux and Nicolas Vukota, who celebrated their day August 20, Anthony Chick, August 22 and to Michael Courtney, Joseph Serpa, and Aidan Varkonda, who all celebrate their day today, August 24.

BRAD WOODGER

508-627-4216

(ibwsgolf@aol.com)

RICK HERRICK

508-693-8065

(herricklr@verizon.net)

Havenside is a four-building complex of 28 apartments in Vineyard Haven. It was the dream of Margaret Love and her brother, Robert Love, to provide affordable housing for the elderly living full-time at the Vineyard. The complex of buildings was constructed in 1966. The Loves donated the facility to the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in 1973.

The lack of spring rain may be causing Oak Bluffs oak tree leaves to brown early — portending an end to a colorful and busy season. I say season, not summer, because that, like beauty, is difficult to define. Some say summer ends Labor Day, 10 days hence, some may say Tivoli Day in 21 days, and others say Columbus Day in another 44. The truth is that summer ends on your last day on the Vineyard if you’re seasonal —or upon your last outdoor shower if you stay year-round. We all agree the start was Memorial Day weekend and it can be said that July people come for the Vineyard and August people for the additional diversions of events. This year the July people got the weather, including preternaturally warm water, and the August folks certainly got events. And of course there’s still time for a little excitement if the Island gets another “faux-icane” or hurricane that doesn’t quite live up to its billing.

State Beach, 7 a.m. on a Friday morning. The beach is empty and calm as the tide laps the shoreline, slowly waking up before summer beachgoers arrive. The sun shines brightly on white sand, silhouetting the few early risers.

Please Adopt Us

The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard has four adorable 12-week-old kittens, one male and three females, gray-and-white, short-haired. Call the shelter or drop by to see them.

When Tanya Augoustinos and Maria Westby opened A Gallery in July, they set out to bring contemporary art to the Vineyard. This goal was evident last Sunday at an opening for Cindy Kane’s show Inheritance, her first on the Island since 2008. Ms. Kane’s work is provocative, yet unobtrusive. She creates visually-pleasing assemblages that subtly carry a political undertone, a quality that separates her from more traditional Vineyard artists.

The drop in humidity last weekend was a much-needed and welcome change. It made me long for the crisp air of fall.

It's late summer and I am finally getting into the spirit. My inspiration is a bumper crop of wild cherries.