Chilmark moves on toward midsummer with the same excitements as always. Lots of visitors, families and weekenders gathering for swimming at our beaches, checking out all the activities planned in town and, of course, our spectacular sunsets that have not disappointed this month. Signs are going up that direct drivers to the new town parking area on Tabor House Road, and the new shuttle service offered by Chilmark for folks to be driven by bus to and from the sunset between 4 and 9 p.m. beginning on August 1. Hopefully, this will make evenings less stressful for all.

Tom Langman hosted a visit from Bob Simon of Reston, Va., last week. Mr. Simon, a former seasonal resident of Chilmark and the founder of Reston, is now 100 years old, but it did not stop him from enjoying his visit with friends and family.

We send best wishes to Robert Fokos who has been enduring a lengthy recovery at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital this month. We hope to see him out and about soon.

At my house, we are happy to have Caleb, Chris and Celia Slater here for their vacation. Cheers to Celia who celebrated her 16th birthday on Wednesday, the 26th. The family is just home from a two-week adventure in Europe.

Larsen Lane welcomes many members of the extended Hancock family. Marjorie Phillips is enjoying a visit from son Chip and his wife, Marsha, and sons Adam, Justin and Chase. In nearby family cottages are the Ramsey family, Bill and Betsy of Wayland, and their daughter Karen, husband Brad and 9-month-old Ruth Milioto of Gonzales, La. Greg Ramsey and Heather Diskin of Boston joined the reunion as did Bill’s nephew Jamie and his wife Blair Ramsey and their baby. Betsy’s sister, Nancy, with husband Kevin Quinn, left for Northboro after a week on Larsen Lane. Their daughter Kayleigh and husband Alex with 4-month-old John Petruska of Grafton joined them. The two infants mentioned in this item were making their first visits to Menemsha, where their family roots run deep.

Hariph and Ginger Smith of Augusta, Me., and their son Nathaniel and his wife and two daughters of South Portland, Me., are here for their annual vacations at their Larsen Lane home.

The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury is hosting its annual Blueberry Festival on Saturday, July 19, from noon to 4 p.m. Sounds like a fun family event. Call 508-693-2842 if you have questions.

The Chilmark library will host its 5 p.m. Wednesday evening program. Stewart Brand and Ryan Phelan, the publishers of the Whole Earth Catalog, will talk about the woolly mammoth and reviving the heath hen on Martha’s Vineyard. The program is titled De-Extinction. The Friends of the Chilmark Library sponsor the Wednesday programs.

The Chilmark Historical Commission would like to invite you to attend their annual program at the Chilmark library on August 13. Renowned author Henry Adams will speak about Thomas Hart Benton on Martha’s Vineyard. There will be a follow-up program on Thursday morning at Over South Antiques when Mr. Adams will continue the discussion with illustrations. Save the dates.

The activity at the rebuilding of the U.S. Coast Guard boathouse has increased and the building is well on its way to completion.

Cheers to Patrick Ruel and Bea Whiting on the birth of their first child, Asa Allen Ruel, on July 10 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Asa is the first great-grandchild for Jim and Roberta Morgan of Menemsha.

The author lecture series continues at the Chilmark Community Center. July 24 is the date of the author talk by Ward Just about his new book, American Romantic. Please note that the lecture series will continue on Thursdays and Sundays, and tickets may be purchased for all the talks at Bunch of Grapes bookstore and at the Chilmark Community Center, or at ticketsmv.author. The Beekman Boys, Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, will discuss The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Vegetable Cookbook on Sunday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. Books are also available at the talks. Please call the center for more information. The series includes many interesting and celebrated authors.

The Yard continues a busy schedule. They will have the annual Art a la Carte benefit dance and dinner at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury on July 23 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Please call the Yard at 508-645-9662 for more information.

Hopefully, the activities listed above will keep you and your guests busy for another week of fun in the sun! The reports are good for sand at Squibnocket and the parking opportunities are best at early hours. The Menemsha harbor seems overflowing with beautiful boats and there are still lots of roses in bloom, so enjoy the week!

Send your Chilmark news to: slaterjn@comcast.net.