They all laughed at me and rolled their eyes when I said I thought I could smell a slight smoky aroma in the haze that enveloped us. Sure enough, that haze was courtesy of wildfires far, far way. Canadian and west coast fires brought air that was heavy to breathe yet left something that gave way to pretty Mars-like sunsets.

On July 27, Bob Ganz celebrated his 96th birthday. On that day in 1925, Calvin Coolidge was president, folks were listening to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Gene Austin, and watching Wild Horse Mesa, directed by George Seitz, and the Ganz family was swooning over a new baby. Ninety-six years later, folks are doing very different things, but one thing remains the same: celebrating that wonderful, well-settled nonagenarian North Road gardener.

Whenever Judd Fuller wanders into town, it’s as though I’ve magically traveled back to the 90s when he was a member of that fun band Entrain who we all loved to see perform at places like the Atlantic Connection. Times have changed a bit and he now calls Nashville home. But Judd still has that wonderfully appealing persona that you can wander right back into a conversation with, that prompts laughter just like you’d chatted yesterday. Welcome home for a spell, Judd.

Heather, the public relations assistant for the Comm Center, shares that there has been an uptick in accidental 911 calls, primarily from cell phones. So take the time to make sure your phone is locked before you tuck it back in your pocket or bag. Don’t let little kids play with your phones and if you realize you’ve accidentally called 911, they ask that you please remain on the line and let them know you are okay.

Wayne and Gigi Kurth were in town and took a moment to catch up with dear friends like David Norton. Strolling Menemsha and nibbles of seafood satisfied their taste for home for now.

I see Uncle Don Smith almost daily as he makes his rounds which include buzzing the Bight or circling the shore--the saying varies depending on your vernacular--both before and after he charges his way up to the Head to see family and, perhaps, have a bite of breakfast at his family’s Outermost Inn. When I saw him on Sunday morning, his grin was just a little bit bigger. It was bigger because it was the day that marked his 93rd birthday. His favorite way to celebrate is surrounded by family which includes his children Russell, Robin and Jimmy Hickey, Jeanne and Hugh Taylor, and Hollis and Robin Robinson. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren wish him a happy birthday as well, not to mention so many of us who fall into the realm of nieces, nephews and cousins.

I can say it’s official. Bonito have been caught from the rocky perch of the Menemsha jetty. I saw it with my own eyes, moments after as he paraded it by the Texaco. I saw and confirmed with the fisherman--who shall remain nameless at this time--the following day that it tasted every bit as sweet for dinner that night, too.

Katy Smith and Josh Markievitz were in town this past week, visiting Katy’s folks Kathy and Bill Smith, sister Samantha and fiancee Phil Hollinger, along with a lovely list of friends. Amidst the visiting, the couple squeezed in more wedding planning. Time is quickly winding down as the day they say “I do” creeps closer. September 25 is the day they are anxiously and excitedly looking forward to.

I don’t all that often have an opportunity to sit a spell on Squid Row in July and August, but I took a few moments the other day to chat uninterrupted with Carol Brown Goldberg. We talked about memories and childhood and the simple things in life that warm our hearts. One of her moments involves peanut butter crackers and one of mine is Saltines lovingly spread with butter by my Nana. She’d serve them to me on fine china with a cup of hot tea to wash them down. I remember squeezing the crackers together until the butter came out the little holes. Thank you, Carol, for sharing my moment.