By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

Fewer fish were caught and released in the 18th annual Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club’s flyrod striped bass catch and release tournament last weekend than in the previous year’s contest. It may be the first time the number of fish caught and released was less than the number of anglers who entered the contest. There were a total of 146 striped bass and 193 flyfishermen.

High school drama students played in the Yard last weekend — performing in a new (for them) up-Island setting to match the students’ new much-upped fund-raising goal: enough money to take a strong ensemble to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next year.

This fundraiser was particularly significant for the drama department because of their long-term endeavor to raise $6,000 per student to participate in the Fringe, at the invitation of a national student theatre organization.

Guests swarmed to Mediterranean restaurant early Saturday afternoon to honor Empowered Woman of the Year Cindy Doyle and to observe the passing of the torch from former Women Empowered executive director Kaye Flathers to successor Sheila Bracy.

“We were thrilled with the turnout,” said Ms. Bracy. She attributes the success of the brunch to the volunteers who dedicated their time to organizing the event.

Money for the Vineyard Food Pantry, now closed for the summer, comes from many different sources. Recently the cochairmen of last year’s Crop Walk, Phil Dietterich and Alden Besse, presented a check to Armen Hanjian, food pantry coordinator, for $5,113, earmarked to bolster the pantry coffers as it continues to provide food for Islanders in need.

Is the Vineyard poised to become the launch point for the next American Great Awakening?

Ask Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt, the celebrity entertainers and authors who are the masterminds behind Inspiration Weekend 2009, which runs this weekend (June 5 to June 7), at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, and they’ll tell you it just might be.

“We’re gonna light that fire again,” says Ms. DuArt, a well-known comedic impressionist who appears on national television as everyone from Judge Judy to George Burns.