The send-off felt a little like the dawn of a new adventure, a trip to uncharted territory — a discoverer’s voyage to the new world or the Wild West. And the subject of the voyage is almost as mysterious and misunderstood, its public perception more determined by stereotypes.

A view of the pastureland along one edge of the Elizabeth Islands is not the typical ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard, unless you are a passenger on the Ava Pearl Fast Ferry.

Starting at Quonset Point in New Kingstown, R.I., the ferry then cruises under the Newport Bridge and into open water. Buzzards Bay awaits and the Vineyard Sound, before docking in Oak Bluffs.

Hundreds of people raised their glasses and funds for the Vineyard Playhouse at a gala at Blue Heron Farm, President Obama’s former Chilmark vacation home, on Saturday.

The fundraiser was hosted by new Blue Heron Farm property owners Lord Norman and Lady Elena Foster, as well as Playhouse patrons Friederike and Jeremy Biggs.

Artistic director MJ Bruder Munafo said the event raised more than $125,000 for the ongoing capital campaign to restore and renovate the historic Vineyard Playhouse building in Vineyard Haven.

Early afternoon on a hot and humid Monday. Between moments of calm, there is an ongoing flow of summer-garbed people coming and going, checking on books they’ve ordered, renewing books, searching for something new to read and DVDs to watch. But no one comes in to the West Tisbury Free Public Library without his or her entrance being noted and acknowledged. Familiarity is instantaneous, and all visitors — young and old — are received with hushed welcome.

Early Sunday morning, when most are still asleep, a thin crescent moon appears near the planet Jupiter. The two are low in the southeastern sky, an hour before sunrise. The red planet Mars can also be seen just underneath.

If you miss the scene on Sunday, try again Monday morning. The moon will be lower, just under Mars.

There is a third planet low in the eastern sky, but don’t get your hopes up. Mercury is so low and so close to the horizon, it is almost invisible.

By almost all accounts, from historian Arthur Railton to the Vineyard Gazette, to the national press, the summer of 1874 in Cottage City was the biggest and most exciting ever. As Mr. Railton wrote, “It was a watershed summer. There would be no turning back. The nation, in 1874, discovered our Island.”

In early May I was talking to a fisherman who from time to time fishes along our bluff. At one point in the conversation he brought up Hurricane Sandy. A day after the storm he was walking the bluff looking for birds. While walking across from Lincoln Park, he felt the entire road shake as a large trash truck drove by. His first thought was that a small earthquake had occurred.

Are you tired of hearing about Comcast? Well, I’ll tell you how you can get us to stop bugging you about it. Send in your “commitment letter” to Comcast. Then, next time one of us asks you to support the effort, you just say, “I sent my letter in already. Leave me alone!” And we will leave you alone, at least until spring when the next phase begins.

As I sit here tonight typing this column, I can feel the air changing — no muggys and the clothes are not sticking. What a great feeling.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Auguste Pizzano, who celebrated his day July 27; Zachary Patnaude, July 28; Michael O’Brien, July 29; Coleman Hughes July 31; and to Cassidy Kelleher, who celebrated her day August 1.

Guess who washed ashore a week ago Monday? Javier, Julia, Aidan and Olivia Gomez Blanco of New Brunswick, N.J. They are the adored family of Paul and Marge Howes. The group has livened up my ’hood with more activities than I have participated in during all my 35 years on-Island.