Chilmark had a hangover this week . . . too much pleasure all compacted into one week. The buzz was about how wonderful Illumination Night, the fireworks and the fair were, fun for everyone. The roadsides are beginning to look a little dusty, the fields are browning and the month is clearly turning. Boats are gone from dockside, faces are changing on Squid Row and lines are getting shorter at our favorite eating places, all the familiar happenings that move us to September. Now let’s hope Mother Nature remembers to cool our days down a notch.

Late August is often the time that some of our notable visitors come by, but if I tell you who I know is here I will have to shoot you. Well, almost.

Samantha Bunker is off to begin her second year of college. She has transferred to Clark University in Worcester and we all wish her good luck. She is the daughter of Rodney and Pam Bunker of North Road.

Chelsea Maida returned to Citra, Fla. this week after a 10-day visit with her grandmother, Margaret Maida, on the Menemsha Crossroad. While here, Chelsea celebrated her 19th birthday at a family cookout. Cheers to you, Chelsea.

Nancy Mae and Don Hurley are at their Quitsa home for an end of summer vacation. They come from Oyster Bay, N.Y.

William Seward and his family are enjoying a vacation at the home of William’s grandmother, the late Barbara Seward, on Molly’s Way in Menemsha. William is the son of David Seward of Vineyard Haven.

Jason Gay and his family are in Chilmark for a late summer visit. Jason was a reporter for the Vineyard Gazette a number of years ago. He now writes for the Wall Street Journal.

Christopher Manning visited his former workmates at the Galley in Menemsha this week. Christopher is home for the first time in two years. He is in the Navy and stationed in Lemore, Calif. He was entertained by his dad Paul, Theresa Manning, his grandmother June Manning, his brother Noah, sister Kayla and niece Kaylee while home.

Shirley Mayhew will give a book talk at the Chilmark library on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. Shirley will talk about her new book, Looking Back — My Long Life on Martha’s Vineyard. Shirley is always a pleasure to hear or to read. I hope you read her recollections of V-J Day in a recent Gazette issue. The program at the library is sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library.

Her recall of V-J Day, August 15, 1945, reminded me of a short recollection I have of that day. It was a hot, sunny day in Chilmark and we were fortunate enough to have a radio and heard the news. My mother piled my brother and myself into the Model A and headed into the field to drive to each of the four camps and tell the tenants the good news, as they had no electricity or radio or telephone. Well, the Model A gave out in the middle of the field where it remained for awhile, and we climbed out and made up an odd sort of parade around the area and then out on to the main road and down to the town hall. Lots of folks gathered there in the upstairs meeting room. It was then that Roger Allen went home and returned with a bottle of booze that he had found on the beach during Prohibition a good number of years earlier and stored in his barn. The libations were enjoyed and the event was duly celebrated…Chilmark style!

Please note that Everett Healy’s book signing will be on Sunday, August 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the shop next to the Beetlebung Café on Basin Road. The book, Martha’s Vineyard Ferries, will be of interest to all who have an interest in the many different Vineyard ferries.

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.