The Unexpected 3rd: A Radical, Rollicking Rumination on the Optimism of Staying Alive explores, with humor and insight, the years that follow middle age.

Elizabeth Broski and Airton Broski, Jr., of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a daughter, Livia Kay Broski, born on September 17.

Morgan Uva and Joseph Uva 3rd, of Edgartown, announce the birth of a daughter, Madison Lucille Uva, born on Sept. 23.

Brittany Assis Silva and Tulio Vinicius DeSilva, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a son, Noah DePaula Silva, born on September 19.

We certainly got the rain we needed, but again we got it all in three days.

Tivoli Day, always a welcome festival, was held in Oak Bluffs last Sunday, a rain delay from Saturday.

We had almost five inches of rain this past weekend, according to our neighborhood weatherman Tom Hodgson.

When I was a kid, the word northeaster always had the prefix “three-day.” Nowadays we can get a northeast breeze that lasts a mere 24 hours.

Fall has knocked on the door and we’ve let her in.

Last week’s rain and wind wreaked havoc on the gardens. What was particularly sad was the destruction of the sunflowers in the boat in front of the old sober house in Oak Bluffs.