Motorcyclists enjoyed a weekend on the Vineyard, while contributing to Island charities through the 29th annual Run to the Rock.

Mike Dow, president of the hosting nonprofit group, the Martha’s Vineyard Harley Riders, said the weekend went well. Last year the event raised $50,000 for Vineyard charities and Mr. Dow said they expect to do even better once all the money is counted this year. The riders came from all over New England, and from as far north as Canada and as far west as Pennsylvania.

If Matt Heineman is nearing his limit, he does nothing to show it this Sunday afternoon. The 27-year-old ran the Chilmark Road Race Saturday, but the 5K along Middle Road was just a warmup for this. Sunday is a marathon — specifically, the Alex Cohen Memorial Basketball Marathon.

If Matt Heineman is nearing his limit, he does nothing to show it this Sunday afternoon. The 27-year-old ran the Chilmark Road Race Saturday, but the 5K along Middle Road was just a warmup for this. Sunday is a marathon — specifically, the Alex Cohen Memorial Basketball Marathon. Mr. Heinemen first stepped onto the court behind the Chilmark Community Center at noon, and it’s now nearing 5:45 p.m. There have been breaks for the individual players over the past six hours, but the games themselves just keep going throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The pitch is the first step in an often very long process of making a movie. It’s what gets the money people to open, or close, their wallets. Sometimes it's a big concept. An asteroid is about to smash into the earth and only Bruce Willis can save us. Other times, wild comparisons are evoked to assure its marketability. It's Terminator meets Harry Met Sally with a side of Toy Story. In any case, the idea is to go big and dramatic in just a few sentences because that's all the time a writer has to convince a producer the project has merit.

Tomorrow Vineyarders from all generations will walk into the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury, proudly carrying their artwork, home-grown vegetables, baked goods (the juniors anyway; adult bakers must wait for Thursday morning) and displays. The animals will begin to arrive in the next few days, and that heavenly smell of hay, fried food and the sweetness of August will mingle in the air on Thursday, as the 149th Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair begins.