Tisbury shellfish constable Danielle Ewart had her boat loaded with 225,000 quahaugs. Fully grown, the hard-shelled clams would have weighed upwards of 40 tons.

Fog and sun have been our friends this week. But we can’t complain as it was warm and people were at the beach.

The Fourth of July weekend saw one new positive test case of Covid-19 reported on the Island, as coronavirus numbers slowly inch upward with summer entering full swing.

Amateur fireworks displays were crackling from Edgartown to Aquinnah, keeping Island police busy over the Fourth of July. Police also reported a handful of drunken driving arrests.

There were no fireworks sparkling over the Edgartown Lighthouse this Fourth of July, no ocean of pastel-colored onlookers or parade of floats festooned with American flags. But there were private fireworks. There were plenty of flags. And there was a parade of traffic in the usual hot spots.

Nibyan Peres and Jonathan Peres, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a daughter, Amber Alves Peres.

Suvarna Stallings and Joshua Stallings, of Vineyard Haven, announce the birth of a son, Noah David Stallings.

Suelen Tavares Fernandes and Inacio Pinto Fernandes, of Chilmark, announce the birth of a son, Miguel Tavares Fernandes.

Two of the Island’s four cinemas will soon be showing movies again, as the third phase of pandemic reopening begins. But many businesses are taking a more gradual approach.

Traditionally our July Fourth service at Union Chapel is reserved for the topic of the state of the American democracy. This year is different.