Balancing summer jobs and family vacation could be considered a competitive sport, but for the youngest generation in the Athearn/Parsons/Taylor clan they have successfully managed to balance work schedules, friends, family dinners, fishing, swimming and reconnecting. After watching Zeb Athearn, Ronin Parsons and Weston Taylor hop aboard a boat, fishing poles and snacks in hand, it was obvious the distance that is between them for the remainder of the year melts away instantly when they all overlap in Chilmark during the summer.
I’d like to think the parents and grandparents in the mix quietly sit and watch as the cousins trade life stories, laugh over shared memories and cement the bonds that grow with each passing year. It is in the unhurried moments under the sun and amongst the stars that they stock up on quality family time that will sustain them until next summer.
Henry and Oscar Jordan-Levy are also wrapping up their time in town under their grandparents roof on Middle Road. They will take with them fond memories from time spent manning the pumps at the Texaco, lifeguarding at Lucy Vincent and Menemsha beaches, and shaping and molding kiddos at CCC camp. If you have an opportunity, ask Oscar about performing at the talent show.
Jackson Cabot managed to squeeze in another summer behind the counter at Larsen’s Fish Market. Siblings Allie and Chili and parents Annie and Dave were pretty pleased his schedule could allow him to spend another summer with them, but time together is dwindling and his life pattern is changing, so behind the wheel he will get and onto the ferry he will drive. He will take with him more memories of fishing, surfing and shucking oh so many oysters.
Marni and Tosh, along with parents Andrew and Emma Fischer packed up and made the trek from California for mix of seashore, farm field, woodland path and a whole lot of family adventures. While I didn’t get to see them myself, the updates and photos made it clear they hit the ground running to catch up with Grandpa Albert, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
It takes a lot of energy to clear out a schedule, but family time makes the logistics worth it.
A brief, but wonderful opportunity offered itself to me and I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to catch up with Rose Goff Maidoff Dougherty. She, along with husband Ciaran and children Lucas (4) and Rayla (2), were drawn to town to celebrate sister Bella’s wedding. The occasion, portrayed by grandmother Pam Goff as “indescribable and lovely” welcomed Pete O’Malley into the family amidst the rustic beauty of the Goff family farm on Tea Lane. Between all of the wedding festivities, the littlest members of the family managed to squeeze in ice cream eating, crab catching, story telling and quality time with their fun-loving and doting grandparents, Ingrid and Jonah. For Rose, a highlight was a few stolen moments one on one with her mom amidst the quiet beauty of Ingrid’s shop, Tending Joy.
To most, Elisha Wiesner is simply the super cool dad of a couple super cool kids, Ida and Booker. He, along with Chris Brokaw and Bob Weston, is a member of the locally famous band Martha’s Vineyard Ferries. You can enjoy their tunes at Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven on August 27 or you can be a groupie and follow them as they hit the road. Among other places, they’ll be at Tandem Coffee in Portland on Sept. 1 and Brooklyn’s Union Pool on Sept. 3. Good times will be had by all.
At the 2026 Meet the Fleet event in Menemsha, local hero Otto Osmers dominated the annual sea scallop shucking competition, pouncing on shells with terrifying, lightning-fast precision while an anxious crowd dodged flying visceral shrapnel. The crowd erupted into wild cheers as Otto finished his pile almost before the other contestants had even started, proving once again that while Paris had the summer Olympics, Menemsha has high-octane mollusk mastery.
This article appears in August 14, 2026.