The flip of the calendar page to September brings a shift toward autumn routines, yet the universe still leaves the door cracked for stolen summer moments. The beginning of this month is a repository of beautiful, bittersweet memories. August wrapped up with children giggling at the touch tank late into the evening, most notably over the dogfish brought in by Matt Mayhew on the Lady M and the dozens of pufferfish caught in crab corner. Bennett, Juniper, Clive, Iris, Montgomery, Louisa, Josephine and Florence, thank you for making the last day of August so special.
Even a few raindrops couldn’t dampen the style of Emme Carroll’s sweet 16 celebration. Though Sept. 1 lacked bright sunshine, the warmth of friends and family took center stage as she marked the milestone. Traditions are important and the day was marked by enjoying a homemade ice cream cake crafted by her dad, Chris, proving that the best celebrations are made from the heart, no matter the weather.
Happy 25th anniversary to Jill and Ted Bernhard. Twenty-five years, 300 months, countless times shuffling daughters from point A to point B, walking dogs and debating over what’s for dinner and you two are still smiling. Cheers to a quarter-century of being the ultimate team, and here’s to many more years of love, laughter and staying perfectly in sync.
Eldest daughter, Lily, ventured home for the weekend with a few friends from Bowdoin’s Class of 2026. The four joined Ted at Sunday softball for this week’s theme of spanning the generations, with seven decades represented on the field. Awards were shared at this game and rookie of the year went to eight-year-old Beck Heller. Grandfather Keith was just as proud as Beck with the bestowed honor, who wrapped up the morning by proclaiming, “I’ll be back next year!”
Dr. Tim Guiney was far more than a physician; he was a master of the human connection who transformed routine cardiac check-ups into the comforting warmth of having coffee with an old friend. I’d hear his name from many over the years, including old man Lenny Jason, but then experienced first-hand how seamlessly Dr. Guiney could intertwine genuine inquiries about family, children and work with the technical assessments of a heartbeat as a patient for nearly two decades. His long and fascinating life was defined by an unwavering dedication to science, his family and the patients he served with boundless empathy. Though he is no longer with us, his everlasting memory and profound impact on the community will be honored at a celebration of life this Saturday, Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. at the Grange Hall ensuring that his legacy of compassionate care is never forgotten.
Steve McQuiggan fought like heck, snarled at the dying of the light, and kept his trademark curmudgeonly grit right to the final whistle, leaving Chilmark a little quieter and infinitely less interesting. To honor him properly, be sure to click your camera shutter on a Menemsha sunset, check the water temperature at Squibnocket and dig your toes into the sand at Lucy Vincent beach for a two-hour vigil against the cutting wind, letting the mind drift back to the glory days of the Hot Tin Roof when the bass line vibrated through your chest and the music had real teeth. He was cut from that exact same uncompromising, beautifully curmudgeony cloth — completely genuine to the core, gone from the south shore beaches and Menemsha sunset, but never forgotten.
While early morning breezes carry a new, crisp warning of fall, the afternoon sun still burns hot enough to justify bare feet and sunscreen. These golden, unexpected hours feel like a quiet rebellion against the impending cold, urging us to skip chores for a late day beach trip or an ice cream treat on the porch. We cling to these warm afternoons with a fierce gratitude, knowing each sunset brings the true end of the season a little closer. Ultimately, these fleeting days remind us that summer is not just a season on a map, but a stubborn state of mind that refuses to fade without a fight.
This article appears in September 4, 2026.