There has been quite a lot of excitement at my house. After not seeing my family from Rockford, Ill. for three years, my son, Chris Clark, his wife, Lilly and my youngest grandson, Dominic, drove out here from their home. My older grandson, Corbyn, could not come because of work commitments. But the others arrived yesterday after spending two nights on the road. The second night was at a bed and breakfast in Fall River: the Lizzie Borden house. My son particularly reserved the bedroom of 41 whacks. There was a Ghost Hunt at midnight. For more Americana, they will attend the Tisbury street fair on Friday.

Angela Murphy Piper, has Amtrak-ed up here from her new home in Virginia. She will visit her three children who all live and work on this Island where they grew up.

Kim Stokes Beale is also here at her Island home. Daughter Lillian accompanied her for a few days but had to get back to Boston for work.

My very thoughtful neighbor, Eileen Bemus, presented us with homemade brownies with chocolate chips on top! Eileen is a peach.

I have received many great photos of the Edgartown fireworks, notably from Chris Hulbert and Michael Blanchard. I never attend the fireworks because I am on dog-sitting duties to calm their fear of the booms.

Chris Hulbert attended the Grateful Dread concert at the P.A. Club last Wednesday. He proclaimed it great! The leader of the band was John Zieman. Chris said he was outstanding.

Many thanks to Ernie Boch, Jr. for opening Boch Park at Five Corners just across from the Mobile gas station.

The high school hosted a classic cars event last weekend. Approximately 50 vehicles were there of all types: muscle, jeeps and trucks. The event was so popular more will be scheduled.

Always active Louisa Gould is hosting another cocktail reception at her gallery on Main Street. You are invited on Saturday to cocktails between 5 and 7 p.m. See the works of Gwen Marcus and Sean Roach. This exhibit runs until August 6.

Congratulations to Mike Creato who safely landed his red biplane on a beach in Chappaquidick last weekend when the engine began to fail.

Sad to hear from my old high school that Sr. Mary Compassio, also known as Sr. Lucille Coldrick, has died. She was a few years ahead of me in school. Always a great person.

I mistakenly told you last week that July Fourth was Judy Nichols birthday. In fact, it was her husband, Steve Nichols’ birthday.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along Frank Rapoza on July 2; July 4 was a party for Fred Waitzkin, Jane Hawkes and Jesse Herman; July 5 honored Mike McCluskey; and on July 7, Larissa Bartodzieg and Cathy Dille Burdick take the cake. Many happy returns.