There can no longer be any doubt that summer has arrived, bringing people home and to visit Oak Bluffs for what looks like one more busy, bustling season. Something is in the air this year, greater anticipation, heightened expectations that this, 2014, might be the best of the best of summers.

A quasi-Delphic method of research isolates some of the best of years past, each having some impetus that we can recall. The year 1835 was certainly one, thanks to Jeremiah Pease helping to establish the Camp Ground. We have Lucy Vincent to thank for writing about Oak Bluffs actually being constructed in 1869 — and Arthur Railton waxed euphorically about 1874, when Grant took Oak Bluffs, and we were discovered by America. Our secession was marked in 1907, and Railton wrote about 1915 when the Eagle Theatre (today the Island) became the Island’s first exclusive movie house, “An Amusement House of Distinction,” as promoted by builder A.P. Eagleston.

Projecting those events forward, Oak Bluffs establishments, in the voting for Martha’s Vineyard Magazine’s Best of the Vineyard, accounted for 61 per cent of the first or second places of 87 categories — and that was last year. This year, for those returning, stroll Circuit avenue and note all the new and renovated businesses (except for the movie theatres).

In 2014 so far, there have been announcements of the upcoming Harlem Fine Arts Show, a comedy festival, the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, two (or more) music festivals, a new, friendlier fishing competition and many fundraisers and cultural events. Some of these are somewhat ironic given that Oak Bluffs spends proportionately less of our budget than all Island towns on culture and recreation and the most on general governance. Despite that, private enterprise is doing its part to improve and maintain our town, making for an exciting summer.

Starting Tuesday and for every Tuesday through mid-August from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., the Cottagers are sponsoring an Inkwell Beach cleanup. Also, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Renaissance House is featuring Three Good Lookin’ Poets (their words) — Dan Waters, Mike West and Justin Ahren at 31 Pennacook avenue.

The Lagoon Pond Association will hold its annual meeting at the Sailing Camp next Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to noon. Dr. Michael Loberg will discuss the newly adopted fertilizer regulations, and new Vineyard Haven selectman Melinda Loberg will present information on the new Lagoon bridge. By the way, their last names are not coincidental The couple has a combined IQ of a zip code. Oak Bluffs officials Todd Alexander and Dave Grunden will discuss the harbor and shellfish. Everyone is invited to attend, and while you don’t have to be a member of the LPA, that is encouraged.

The Edgartown National Bank opened its new branch where the Oyster Bar Grill/Balance was and it looks sensational. It is renting the adjacent space, which looks like it would be a great place for a jeweler. Bee Dee’s, fresh food fast, is coming soon in the space where Pirate Jack’s was, the spot that was once the Captain’s Table.

The Sunday morning open air market at Washington Park gets bigger by the week, It’s easy to foresee that one will soon need to park at the lot next to Sunset Lake as its popularity grows.

There are a lot of upcoming save the dates: the first Arts District Stroll next Saturday, July 12; Cook the Vineyard, the exciting new Martha’s Vineyard Magazine event at Lola’s Monday, July 14; the Portuguese Feast of the Holy Ghost and Parade on July 19 and 20; Martha’s Vineyard Hospital’s Golf Outing at Farm Neck on Sunday, July 20; Della Hardman Day July 26, and the events keep coming. The Vineyard Gazette has just launched a new self-administered events calendar at eventsmv.com that you should try — in case I run out of room in the column — and to see what’s scheduled for the season. It’s easy to use and fairly complete.

In the event you saw the slick white sports car tooling around Oak Bluffs last Friday, yes, it was indeed a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the drop-dead gorgeous, 731 horsepower supercar few of us even bother to dream about. I caught it over at the East Chop Lighthouse. With a list price of $318,000 — about half of the median home price on the Island — Oak Bluffs was an interesting choice for a reported shoot by Conde Nast. Perhaps we’ve arrived all over again, just like 1874. Enjoy the summer of 2014, and welcome back.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send your Oak Bluffs news to: Skip@mvgazette.com