RICK HERRICK

508-693-8065

(herricklr@verizon.net)

Let me begin by catching you up on a few weddings. Phillip Hunsaker and Emily Cohan were married on July 23 at Herring Creek Farm in Edgartown. The weather magically cleared at this beautiful setting which allowed for a ceremony and reception that participants and guests will not soon forget. Phillip currently works as the property manager at the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary while Emily works at Offshore Ale and is a photographer and lead singer for various Island bands. The couple resides in West Tisbury.

Ben Willmott and Kristen Emery were married in Canandaigua, N.Y. on July 30. Ben works for Wilkins Management which handles Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and other well known jazz performers. This fall Liz Willmott will marry Andrew Storey in Seattle, Wash. Liz recently left the Obama administration where she worked as a program director for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She currently runs a consulting company on climate change in Seattle. Barbara and Tom Willmott honored their two children at a Beach Club party on August 13.

For those of you who enjoy stories with happy endings, please continue. Last week some lockers were vandalized at the East Chop Beach Club during the night. Among several items stolen were three valuable surf boards owned by Eli Hammett, Max Potter and Ian Harris. The following evening Larry and Marty Wilder along with son Ethan walked into Oak Bluffs. As they ambled along the sidewalk by the harbor, Ethan spied the three boards. While Larry went home for the family car, Ethan stood guard by the boards. The next morning a proud Ethan delivered the boards to his three friends.

Finally, last Saturday the beach club and tennis clubs held their annual August meetings. In many ways, the meetings were routine. The finances of both clubs are healthy, and the facilities are in good shape thanks to ongoing maintenance programs.

It was the last meeting for the two club presidents. Bill O’Brien is retiring after two years as president and several years on the board. In speaking with board members after the meeting, Bill was praised for his steady, thoughtful leadership of the club. I also learned that he had a large impact on several business-related matters such as reviewing contracts, insurance policies, and the club’s relationship with banks. His hard work on these issues has both saved the club money and professionalized its operations.

The story regarding Jim Davin at the tennis club is much the same. Jim is also retiring after two years as president and several years on the board. Board members praised him for his sense of fun, his enthusiasm, and his hard work over many years in improving the club’s facilities. We were fortunate in having both men leading our clubs.

The other aspect about both meetings that was routine were the many thank yous. I was humbled as I learned about the long hours so many of our residents spend working to improve our community. We all know who they are. Please thank them for their efforts when you run into them. East Chop is a far better place for all the hard work they do.