The bomb guys are back. They will pick up where they left off last fall working at finding and destroying unexploded ammunition which the military used for target practice out at Cape Pogue, both on dry land and underwater.

I was born on the first full day of spring in 1952. I like that my birthday is celebrated with the arrival of my favorite time of year.

It’s the time of year when the great ponds along the south shore of the Vineyard get opened to the sea. The ponds are now brim-full from all of the rain and snow melt during the winter months.

Six weeks ago a friend plunked a calendar down in front of me and told me to point to the day that I would head out to California to visit my daughter Nearess.

Four and a half decades ago I was memorizing the Navigation Rules at Maine Maritime Academy.

Every time I drive out to Wasque, I think of Gazette writer Joseph Chase Allen sitting at his desk on Skiff’s Island writing his weekly feature Among the Fishermen.

As usual the school vacation week on the islands gives the impression that more than half of the inhabitants have gone to America.

As of Tuesday, the overland route between Chappy and the Vineyard was open for vehicular traffic.

On Tuesday morning Brad Fligor’s voice came over the ferry radio asking somebody to call the police quickly.

The northeaster that blew across the islands Monday left several inches of fresh water. There were some spectacular puddles on the roads and the big ferries missed a few trips.