From Gazette editions of July, 1935:

A familiar word has already entered into the conversation of the cities — humidity; indeed, it is not altogether unknown in the polite verbal exchanges of the Vineyard.

Human nature cannot be studied in cities except at a disadvantage — a village is the place. There you can know your man inside and out — in a city you but know his crust; and his crust is usually a lie.” So wrote Mark Twain more than a century ago.

After living in the village of Vineyard Haven full-time for the past 15 months, I see signs of cracking in my crust. Whole pieces are falling off. Life is looser here. Truth pads around on little fur feet, lapping up the crust dust. And where Truth lurks, karma is just around the corner.

Sarah and Jason Look of West Tisbury announce the birth of a daughter, Josie Sarah Look, born on July 9 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Josie weighed 8 pounds. She joins big sisters Alexandra, Emma and Lauren.

Samantha Gibson and Erik VanLandingham of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a daughter, Hazel Jane VanLandingham, born on July 13 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Hazel weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces at birth.

Rebecca and Brice Delhougne of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Hugo Austin Delhougne, born on July 6 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Hugo weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces at birth.

“How about a coin?,” we used to entreat passengers aboard the ferries while visitors from America embarked and disembarked at the dock in Oak Bluffs on the way to Nantucket. The bigger kids — and faster swimmers — were able to get closest and catch the best booty of half dollars and quarters while the slower, smaller kids dove for nickels, dimes and pennies further away. The smaller kids saved coins to buy flippers to increase speed, and masks to see those missed that sank to the bottom.

I know some of you don’t believe in it, but East Chop has a telltale sign of global warming. Crystal Lake has not been covered in thick ice in several years. Emma Carmichael remembers as a little girl the ice for her refrigerator came from Crystal Lake. All you had to do was put a sign in your window, and the iceman came.

The gossip columnist is the last to know. What’s going on with my favorite clock, It’s Time to Read, now stuck in the 2:15 position in front of the old Bunch of Grapes building? Will it be moved across the street? Will it be reset in it’s current position? Inquiring minds want to know.

The weekend weather was delightful and summer-like. A lot of backyard barbecuing was held all around town and it was wonderful. Business people report that there have been a lot of people around and the traffic is nearly impossible at times; it has definitely been busier than last year. The beaches have been packed each day with the hot weather making this Island a vacation paradise. The weatherman tells us that we are on pace to be one of the warmest Julys on record. We had a lot of thunder and some much-needed rain Monday morning. Traffic came to a standstill last Saturday afternoon around 5 p.m. as two baby deer leisurely crossed Music street and walked casually into the field.

Chilmark is steamy tonight as I sit down to write on Wednesday night. The threatened thunderstorm of an hour or so ago has gone up the Sound without leaving us a single drop of much-needed rain. We are hoping there may be some more storms in the neighborhood. The week of really hot weather has created crispy lawns and parched gardens. Somebody please do the rain dance!