The sun sets earlier now, casting a golden hue over a community shifting its rhythm from summer freedom to the familiar routine of back-to-school. Along the jetty, the Derby fishermen line up and set up camp in parking spots, swapping stories of how the fish are treating them today.
Yet, the seasonal shift hasn’t completely erased the summer spirit. The moment 3 p.m. rolls around, the dock and crab corner fill with small children kicking off their shoes, determined to grab as much of the remaining warmth and water as they possibly can. Finley, Oscar, Vera, Maya, Bennett, Juniper, Margo, Finn, Reef, Winston, Willa, Monty and more, thanks for bringing and sharing the joy.
As autumn contemplates settling in, bringing with it a slower, more deliberate pace to the harbor, it invites folks to linger a bit longer on Squid Row. It is a welcome time for gathering old friends and sparking quiet opportunities to reconnect. Among those enjoying the serene afternoons are Beth and Paul Mayhew, who have taken to sitting a spell and recently shared a warm, unhurried visit with Bonnie and David Steere.
Even as the nights turn cooler, the community spirit holds strong, and Friday nights have been for squidding. There haven’t been many out there lately, but a few have been caught, and everyone recently oohed and ahed over the big one that didn’t get away, leaving Marshall currently in the lead for the largest squid caught. Bennett and Juniper Brown and Margo Holtham cheered the loudest.
The Derby brings in familiar faces who come to wet a line, swap fish stories and keep the tradition of camaraderie alive. Dave and Kathleen Wright are here for the duration. Their 20-somethings, Carly and Pib, will come and go over the next month or so, but fishing will be a constant.
Andrew Noyes has swooped in from Colorado and hit the water running, landing himself on the leaderboard with a bonito caught on the fly. He will be in town for a spell, spending time with his folks Ann and Hal between fishing expeditions.
Harris Loeser has returned from his home in San Francisco to pass a little time at the family homestead off Flanders Lane. He’s rejoined the early morning coffee crowd on Squid Row and, yes, the occasional afternoon ice cream sandwich is also a given.
The Chilmark School fourth and fifth graders have been under sail this past week for what is a truly bittersweet milestone: the final student voyage of the historic schooner Shenandoah. The voyage is a core piece of the Chilmark School curriculum and a revered rite of passage for its oldest students. This immersive maritime outing transforms children into an active ship crew, teaching them teamwork, marine science and responsibility. For generations of past participants, the experience remains an unforgettable highlight of their youth, forging lifelong bonds and connecting them to the Island’s seafaring heritage.
As you may know, this is Shenandoah’s final voyage. On Friday, Sept. 18, there will be a parade of sail commencing at noon in Tarpaulin Cove to escort the Shenandoah into the harbor for the last time. School staff and parents give a shoutout and big thank you to Georgia Halliday for accompanying students and working alongside the MV Ocean Academy staff to ensure a successful trip.
My first introduction to Nancy Nitchie was through Marshall’s grandmother, Bette Carroll, who introduced me to the Banjo Newsletter, a fine production of literature created by Nancy and Hub. In the years following that, I’d bump into Nancy regularly — the post office, the grocery store and at the Texaco pumps. As she aged, our chats grew thinner and when she moved to Windermere the opportunity ceased altogether. A change in routine tends to do that. During her 96 chapters in the book of life, Nancy spent her days tending to the colorful hydrangeas, roses, and day lilies at her little house on State Road overlooking Quitsa Pond, always surrounded by the warmth and company of her loving family and friends. Nancy Huntington Nitchie’s good humor and gift for storytelling will be missed, but will carry on through the voices of her family: Donald Nitchie, Beth Parker, Emily, Billy Jake and Delilah Meegan, Sofia Nitchie, Tucker and Nigel Smith and, of course, great-grandson Silvio.