Can it really be nearly the end of August already? This hibernating reporter only spent half the summer on the island, and boy, that is way too short! I’m glad to see that the weather has improved sufficiently for folks to get boating and working on their tans at the beach, too! Many thanks to Patsy Mackenzie for providing the news I’d missed…

Wow, wow, wow! Big doings at this year’s 92nd annual Penny Party in the 136th anniversary of the IOS!  Once again, Patsy Mackenzie was the everlasting Penny Party Lady. But this time, she had her very own Vanna White in the body of ever-young and funny Matt Bogart, the Showman. Glen McCandless generously provided a new sound system with a headset and bluetooth speakers. The Casino was packed to the gills with at least 93 kids of all ages. The Children’s Work Party represented very ably with 9 children, with their red special tickets grasped firmly in their hands, ready to be big winners. Many thanks to them for bringing beauty to the IOS every year with such cooperation that it didn’t seem like work to them. There were wonderful prizes, topped off with incredible Grand Prizes, and, at the finale, David Bowen announced that we surpassed all other years by bringing in over $2500 for the Tennis Association.

Another finale, of sorts, was the last Penny Party for Patsy Mackenzie. She announced that she had led the festivities for 34 years and it was time for some new blood. She made it known that she had asked Matt Bogart to assume the position. He graciously agreed, and said, since it is such a large job, he’d like to go back to having many callers for the evening. Patsy was thrilled that she will get to put in her tickets and start making up for lost time by winning everything! She thanked everyone for supporting her through all the years, and was happy to go out with a major profit. The group gave her a standing ovation and David presented her with a note that said, “Thank you from decades of IOS kids of all ages!” Amazingly, the evening ended at 9:35!

The next night almost didn’t happen because, not only wasn’t there anyone to run the Children’s Service, all the children left right after the Penny Party. Fortunately, Matt  Aeschliman and his two, Emma and Graham, stepped up and presented us with an evening of  “Adaptability”. Emma opened the evening with two piano pieces which she performed without her music. They were “Toccatina” by Dmutry Kabalevsky and “Rage over a Lost Penny” by Ludvig van Beethoven. He thought they would do a skit about a spoof on the height of the new pier, but, because there was no one to be in it, he had to adapt to doing a regular service. He read from John Ridlon’s History of the Isle of Springs about mishaps on the island. Obviously, everything worked out because look how far we’ve come. 

Ask Brenda Bowen about her trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where Becky has been performing her act. It sounds like a wonderful adventure for Becky, and for Brenda since she got to spend some quality time in Scotland.

Crazy days at the Stoddard cottage - for a limited time we had 4 generations under one roof!  Great-Grandma (Gigi) Edna Stoddard; Grandma (Granny, most of the time), Linda Harper; Mummy, Sarah Harper; and 2-year old Lilah Certeza. Lilah just loved the island - playing in the water at Reed’s and Deep Cove (and even attempting swimming), digging clams, making sand castles and boat rides, too! Lilah opted not to eat any lobster, but Sarah more than made up for her! Many thanks to Mike Thompson for the fresh and tasty lobster dinner.

Just a couple days after Sarah and Lilah left, David Stoddard arrived so we could celebrate the birthdays. Glen and Cindy McCandless came over for a cookout followed by almond pound cake served surrounded by the 102 candles of the birthday board. We sang happy birthday to both Edna and David Stoddard as they blew out all the candles. 

Due to the return of rain on Friday, the August wharf party was moved to the Casino. I’m told it was a fun time by all who attended with lots of yummy food, too!  Many thanks to the wise decision makers who changed the venue, even if the lure of a new puzzle and a warm fire proved too much, even for the short walk from my cottage to the Casino.

Arthur Norton was a one man band as he led the Sunday Service and played all the hymns, either on the piano or the organ.  He ably read the first chapter of the book he has been writing for years. It concerned the first year of training at Officer Candidate School for a young sailor.  He read the first chapter, a fascinating look into the first day of training - a situation few of us have experienced. After the service a group gathered for a late night play and sing along. Arthur was joined by Brenda Bowen for some old standards. This made up for the song night we had scheduled. We can look forward to an official one next summer. 

Get your IOS stickers from Betsy Morrell!

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Labor Day picnic on Sept. 2 at the Farmhouse. It’s coming up quickly! The final Sunday Service will be Sept. 3.