Tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 19, friends and family will gather at 4 p.m. in the Community House to celebrate the life of John McCoid. All who would like to attend are invited and a reception will follow. Casual attire.

No paparazzi sightings in the past two weeks from the Barnes boondoggle down the road, but we have heard that Betty and Ted Repa were spotted in sunny southern California with over 100 cousins attending a three-day family reunion. Apparently hot dogs and s’mores were consumed on the beach and an Olympics-worthy slate of tug-of-war and water balloon competitions ensued. Ted and Betty’s daughter Carrie is reportedly holding down the fort in Juniper Point with hubby Nils and their two kids (Claire, age 8 and Silas, age 5). And after 72 years of renting, the Gillies family finally got the party started in their new cottage across from the Community House. John and Patti are hosting Cathy Pratt Gillies and Brian, Brodie, and Evan from St Louis; daughter Emily and friend Ryan from Bristol England; and Chris Gillies and Kim, Zoe and Christie from Cape Elizabeth.

There have been many satisfying distractions on my daily rambles with Captain lately. Neighbors turned out to witness the long anticipated demolition of the old Welch House, where owners Bob and Heidi McGee have extended the lawn and preserved the lovely view. Behind the community house, Emma Schwingle and Lance Emery set up shop one afternoon to sell lemonade and dog treats, with profits to support their dream of a 300-room pet hotel to “help abandoned animals get wonderful homes.” And across the way, my sister Harriet Whiting and her husband John Irwin were tucked into the Pines Cottage at Harborfields while daughter Pilot teaches sewing at Bucks Rock camp.

The exhibition tennis match Saturday was smoking hotter than a griddle of blueberry pancakes, as pro Dave Taylor and assistant pro Bryce Davis challenged guest pros Blake Wayman from New Hampshire and Paul Ratcliffe from Connecticut. The visitors beat the home team 8-5 and earned the coveted Golden Buoy trophy. Our “Berries and Cream” breakfast was organized by Linda King, be-booted (ouch!) but still agile and able to sense a burning pancake at 100 yards. Thanks also to those who helped with the shopping, in the kitchen, and on the court, including Cammie Beattie, Lee Corbin, Marcia Deegler, Jessica Dumphy, Patti Gillies, Neil Goodman, Barb Gray, Ann Kynor, Dawn and Katie Lieb, Andy Matthews, Dave and Becky Taylor, Emily Whiting, donations drummer Eleanor Dumphy-Manfredi, and ball kids Nate Goodman, Amelia Dumphy-Manfredi, and Sebastian Rubel.

The JPVIS Tournament was also in full swing this week, as Ray Fleming and Clay Kynor defeated Emma Mansourian and Tess McComisky in the juniors doubles finals. Emma and Tess also had a close semi-final match, winning in a tiebreaker against Ethan and Sawyer Barnard. Defending champion Emma Mansourian defeated Tess McComiskey in the girls singles tournament, following in the footsteps of her mother Bridgette who won the junior title in 1984! And Ray Fleming won the finals in the junior boys draw against Soren Zimmer. In the ladies draw, Barb Gray and Cammie Beattie (Team “Greattie”) defeated Jessica Dumphy and Emily Whiting (Team “Whitphy”) to take the title this year in a third set tiebreak. This followed fierce matches by both teams on the road to the finals against Team Smithcat (Deb Smith and Anne Cataldo), Team Corgray (Lee Corbin and Kristen Gray) and Team Schuson (Margaret Schutrumpf and Tracy Robinson). On Wednesday, the ladies served up something different — a tennis luncheon in the Community House was our final social event for ladies tennis this season. There is plenty of sunshine still ahead, however, and the Round Robin games will continue through Labor Day.

For those of you heading home next week who may want to fill your tennis arsenal as well as your gas tank, consider stopping at the Connecticut Open women’s tennis tournament Aug. 19-27. Our former tennis director Jeff Dawson will be there with his brothers, all former Yale tennis captains, to launch Rhabit, an online sports education platform.

Sadly, I will be joining those who are pointed south, but luckily the first string reporter for this column, Helene Barnes, will be back with a zing in her step after celebrating her 64th wedding anniversary with husband Art. While I am leaving Maine, I am counting on Helene to fill us in on what is happening on the Point in the last few weeks of a great summer.