Predictably the calendar has turned over to August, and with that cottage change overs (for some) and sunnier weather for most. But first we need to acknowledge briefly some of the 2nd half-of-July events.

July 15. Bingo night hosted by Judy and Rolland Miller. Rolland served as a great caller while Judy provided the grand prize, a gift certificate to Sweet Scoops. Amazingly the cards used for Bingo are the very same that were used at least 70 years ago.

July 16. Sunday service was led by Scott Hutchinson. Scott provided us with the background and histories of many of our favorite hymns such as “Amazing Grace, and “In the Garden,” to name two. The history of each seemed especially relevant in the context of current times.

July 18. Members of the Isle of Springs community and many others gathered at the Harbor Theatre to view Jenny Mackenzie’s award-winning and thought-provoking film, “The Right to Read,” followed by a panel discussion. It was wonderful to see Jenny as movie director lead a discussion about our nation-wide crisis in teaching young children to read.

July 19. Hugh Reece and Erica Tubman hosted the S’mores Roast on the West Shore on a lovely evening (for a change).

July 22. The Balmy Days cruise. With a full boat and on a beautiful evening, captain, Bob Campbell captained the filled-to-capacity Balmy Days through the gut to the outer harbor. We were very fortunate that boat took off and landed at our pier for the event. Thank you, Claudia Stevens, for setting up such a lovely trip.

July 23. Sunday Service. Madeline Welty and Anna Loughridge (sisters) reminisced about their respective island times growing up here. What a treat that their grandfather (Poppy) was at the keyboard to accompany the hymns.

July 30. The Millers focused their Sunday Service on cohabitating. Ah, the challenges when people share living spaces and differ on neatness/food/drink/entertainment preferences! Especially poignant, were Eric and Drea’s descriptions of their transition to empty nesters (“not so bad, after all!”) to the return home of their two daughters during the COVID pandemic.

Aug. 3, All Island Zoom in preparation for the Annual Meeting. Edna Stoddard arrived on a very high tide with 11 days to spare before her 102nd!

Aug. 5, 7 p.m., The Isle of Springs Annual Meeting. At a well-attended all shareholder meeting, both motions presented by the Board of Directors passed unanimously in support of next steps in planning for a new pier.

Aug. 6, Annual Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament and Sunday Service. Winners were Eric Miller and Alexa Stevens. Second place went to Alexa’s mother, Claudia Stevens and Tucker Rozen. A successful bake sale to support the Tennis Club ran during the many sets. Sunday Service was led by David Bowen. He provided us with some life approaches he has learned from his experiences in doing yoga. David was accompanied on the pump organ by his sister, Brenda Bowen. Jenny Mackenzie introduced a new islander, Elias Ashoch, husband of her daughter, Lizzie Loughridge. The couple were married last month in NH. Welcome to Elias!

Aug. 7. Island Work Party. Folks sporting a paint color close to Essex green sanded and painted benches and the fence of the Swett Family Burying Ground which had been recently repaired by Mike Thompson. Others raked/removed kelp from the floats and cut and cleared trees, brush and invasives. Isle of Springs’ work parties are not truly oxymorons; they can be a fun opportunity to get to know members of our island family.

If you’ve heard the Island is becoming more multilingual, you’re right! Here from Germany visiting Milena McClennan and family of Frankfurt is Moritz Groll also of Frankfurt. This is his 2nd summer. Moritz has certainly passed the Island test by taking a daily ocean dip. From Lyon, France are 20 adults and children that are friends of Anna Hastings and her husband, Jean Remy Bonfoy. Lucienne and Marcel communicate in both French and English. The Duncan Reece family has returned from spending 11 months in Seville. Gavin & Brody are the experts in the Spanish language in that family.

Reminders. Please include a list of all persons who live in your cottage as of this summer for the 2024 NeKrangan II exhibit, “Island Cottages and Structures.” Saturday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m., Penny Party. Have your gift donations to the Casino by noon., IOS seal stickers are for sale to benefit the pier (see B. Morrell), IOS hats & glasses to benefit the tennis club (see D. Pierce) and tote bags (see P. Mackenzie, IOS aprons to benefit the museum (see P. Ridlon).