Some days are woven from pure magic and meant to be held in the heart of forever — on Sept. 19, Natalie Poole and Jordan Hoehn filled Oak Bluffs with love and laughter as they tied the knot and stepped through that door to forever, hand-in-hand. Natalie, the daughter of Matt and Patty, and Jordan, the son of Doug and Lauren of Vineyard Haven, shared a day that felt entirely their own, woven tightly with the history of the place and people they love most.
The celebration was a beautiful reminder of lifelong connections. Standing by Natalie’s side were her forever friends — Jordan Lane, Lily (Morgan) Belsky and Amalie Tinus — bringing their shared history full circle from their early days as schoolmates at the Chilmark School. The ceremony was made even more special by having Alex, Natalie’s big brother and Menemsha Texaco alum, guide them through their vows as officiant. In a touching tribute, Natalie and Jordan promised forever to one another on the very same day the family honors the birthday of Natalie’s late grandfather, Matt. It was a day filled with laughter, nostalgia and a love story deeply rooted in the heart of the Vineyard.
The cheers continue. Two more wonderful couples celebrated this past week with wedding anniversaries. Happy fifth anniversary to Katy (Smith) and Josh Markievitz. Happy third anniversary to Jessica Campbell and Michael Dullea. May happiness continue to be with you forever.
Celebrating a milestone this upcoming week are Hillary Noyes-Keene and John Keene — Oct. 5 marks 30 years of marriage, a journey that began on a day I remember so well, standing at North Rock surrounded by the love of family and friends. Let’s wish them continued joy in all the days to come.
It’s a big week for birthdays, too. Let’s send a huge happy birthday to Corrick Slavin, who celebrates 16 this week. Yes folks, there will be new face behind the wheel with a learner’s permit. Let’s wish him a year full of new memories, safe driving and an incredibly sweet 16. Happy 92 to my dear friend Liz Gude who shares Sept. 29 with Chris Carroll, Jimmy Morgan, Gary Mottau, Michelle O’Connor and presumably others. Also celebrating right around now are Hillary Noyes-Keene, Jimmy Hickey, Natalie Conroy, Marie Mercer, Zach Coutinho, Natalie Poole Hoehn and more.
I had the pleasure of a quick catch-up with Elizabeth Pickett who was in town for a visit. Although Her son Cody Gray was also here taking a break from his job piloting helicopters, though I didn’t have the opportunity to see him this time around.
What a classic Martha’s Vineyard Derby moment — at the tournament’s midway point, junior angler Booker Weisner shared an unforgettable memory at the water’s edge hooking up side-by-side with his dad, Elisha. That well-earned 4.55-pound bonito earned him a first fish pin and landed him in second place on the Junior Shore leaderboard, sitting right on the heels of division leader Latham Kurth, who holds the top spot with a 5.82-pound catch. With the leaderboard heating up and plenty of fishing left to go, the second half of the derby is shaping up to be an absolute thriller for these young anglers.
There have been and still are plenty of familiar names that have made their way to the daily and leader boards, but a couple of additional familiar stand outs are Adam Knight and Diane Lucey.
Over the past couple of weeks, the Menemsha jetty has brought together a wonderful crowd, including locals like Evan, Leila, Adam, Brooks, Casey, Annette, Joey, Lew, Clay, Ryan and Elisha to annual regulars like Brian, Brad and Sarge, who travel from all over the country every year to be part of this tradition. Arriving daily like clockwork with snacks in hand, they drop their tailgates and create a welcoming camp. They truly master the balance of fishing and leisure, frequently trading active casting for warm coffee and shared stories. It is a privilege to share the periphery of their circle.