Chilmark is overflowing with cheer on the sunny days and laments on the rainy days, and we seem to have an equal number of each this month. The general activity of summer goes on in spite of a rainy day or a sunburn from a sunny day.

The sunset on Sunday just passed attracted a huge crowd to the Menemsha Beach — many who will no doubt enjoy parking at the off-site location on Tabor House Road after August 1, and riding the hassle-free shuttle down to the beach and back to their cars when dusk falls. The free shuttle will run from 4 to 9 p.m.

Congratulations to Katie Carroll and her son, Brooks, on achieving their goal last Sunday of climbing to the top of Mt. Washington. Nice weather and some determination combined to make it a good day for their adventure.

The new Coast Guard boathouse now has roof trusses up and the seagulls have already found perches from which to watch the activities in the Basin. The work of construction has speeded up and we are getting ready for the promised ribbon cutting.

We send best wishes to Barbara Flynn, mother of Karen, Michael and Jackie of the Bite on Basin Road. We hope she will be home and well soon.

Jonathan Neumann and his son, Elijah, have come from Portland, Ore., to join Simona who is currently staying with her grandparents, Conrad and Jane Neumann, and working at the Galley. Mom and Christina will join the family next week for their annual Chilmark vacation.

Congratulations to Bob and Connie Taylor of North Road who celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on July 12. Connie’s cousins, Charlie and Stevie Kernick, entertained at a dinner at their West Tisbury home. Cheers from us all! The Taylor’s daughter, Morgan, and her husband Bobby Lucero have recently relocated from Chilmark to Napa, Calif.

Author Nancy Caldwell will discuss her recent book Negotiating Troubled Waters between Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain at the Aquinnah Public Library at Old Town Hall in Aquinnah on July 31 at 5 p.m. The public is welcome at no charge.

The Martha’s Vineyard Library Association will offer a children’s program, Lady Bug Girl, at 11 a.m. on July 30 at the Chilmark Community Center. Children’s librarian Kristin Maloney will lead the festivities with an appearance by Lady Bug herself. The authors of the book are David Soman and Jacky Davis.

The Chilmark library will host an author’s talk by Suzan Bellincampi, director of Felix Neck, who will discuss her new book The Nature of Martha’s Vineyard. The program begins at 5 p.m. In the library meeting room on July 30. All are welcome at no charge.

The community center’s 2014 Author Lecture Series will feature the Beekman Boys, Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, discussing their book The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Vegetable Cookbook at the Community Center on Sunday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this event are available at the door or at the Bunch of Grapes bookstore. Books are also available. The lecture series continues on Sundays and Thursdays through August. The schedule is in the community center booklet and online.

Here’s an interesting detail about books and Chilmark. The town report of 1894 tells us that the Chilmark library had 693 books, and in the course of that year 855 books were taken out. Chilmark continues its interest in the written word!

The Yard will offer a program this weekend at the Patricia N. Nanon Theatre on Middle Road featuring the work of the Yin Mei Dance group. Programs are Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Please call 508-645-9662 or visit dancetheyard.org for information and tickets.

Perry Mehrling and Judy Banker Mehrling are enjoying a visit from their granddaughter Lula Berresford-Banker and her friend Sarah Waldman. Lula is a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University and Sarah is a sophomore at the University of Edinburgh. The girls are looking forward to some fun in the sun!

Asa Allen Ruel was born on July 10 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to Patrick Ruel and Bea Whiting. His proud and happy grandparents are John And Barbara Armstrong of Menemsha, Allen and Lynne Whiting of West Tisbury and Bill and Angela Ruel of Old Lyme, Conn. Asa is welcomed also by his great-grandparents James and Roberta Morgan of Menemsha and Bill and Kay Ruel of Portsmouth, N.H. Cheers to all!

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