Chilmark has survived another summer. Things look pretty much as always; the wear shows more on the faces of those who made it a great summer for others than on the roadsides. The word survival seems to be in the local people’s vocabulary this week. It was a wonderful summer and, many residents, visitors and seasonal residents had a grand time. The toll on the invisible people is what I was thinking of as I started writing this. There are so many folks who make all the excitement possible by their efforts as restaurant workers, lodging providers, transportation arrangers and drivers and all such service people. It is surely those people who are feeling as if they survived the pressures of a great summer. So here is a big thank you to all such Vineyarders and summer Vineyarders . . . we all know many of them who can now rest a bit and enjoy the quieter fall season and have the assurance of a job well done.

School started this week so please be alert to the yellow buses on our roads. Good luck to all our students as they begin a new year of learning.

Chilmark was called upon to say goodbye to Norman Freed this week. He and his wife, Diana, were longtime year-round residents of State Road, Chilmark after many years of being seasonal residents. Norman served on many boards in town hall and spent most of his retirement energy building a new and better library. He was our most enthusiastic fundraiser for the library and served as the chairman of the library trustees for many years. He and Diana moved away last winter to more comfortable arrangements in the Boston area. He will be missed by his many friends here who enjoyed the opportunity of knowing him and working with him. We send condolences to Diana, his two sons and daughter, and their families.

This has been a summer of beautiful yachts. Last week we were visited by a handsome super yacht, Zenji. A sailboat, she was built in 2004 by Perini Navi and Ron Holland. Zenji is 183 feet long and sleeps 12. A pretty sight anchored outside Menemsha harbor.

We send best wishes to Bonnie George of Quansoo who is recovering from knee surgery done some weeks ago and now is adjusting to life with the new knee. We all send good wishes for a speedy return to good health.

We also send good wishes to Roz Glazer who is in New York city recovering from hip replacement surgery. We all hope to see her back at her Menemsha home soon.

Don and Susan Luce of Downingtown, Pa. were at their Chowder Kettle Lane home for a late summer visit. They enjoyed having their daughter, Jennifer, of Wilmington, Del., and their son Thomas and his family of Phoenixville, Pa. all visit them in Menemsha.

Nick and Katie Persons with their three-year-old twin daughters, Natalie and Vivian, are at their South Road home for a late summer vacation. They are happy to have Nick’s brother Mike, and his wife, Marcela Hopkins, of Virginia Beach, here on their first Vineyard visit.

Please note that the Galley will be closing at 3 p.m. on weekdays from now on and will be open until 7 p.m. on weekends. The Bite is closing on Tuesdays and Harbor Craft shop will also close on Tuesdays. There will be no more lobster rolls at the Chilmark Community Church until next year and the fundraising flea markets are finished for this year. Thanks to all who made both activities so successful.

It is not over yet as the popular restaurants Home Port and the Beach Plum Inn are planning to remain open until the Columbus Day weekend. The Beach Plum restaurant will offer a bourbon and BBQ night on Tuesday nights with a family style casual dinner available without reservations. Please call ahead to confirm details at 508-645-9454. The Home Port will offer casual fare on Wednesday nights until Columbus Day weekend. There will be a lobster boil, family style, available on the patio of the restaurant. Again, no reservations, but to check details, the Home Port number is 508-645-2679. Popular chef Josh Aronie is overseeing these events at both restaurants, thus assuring us of a treat!

Chilmark library will have a special program on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. Art historian Annie Cohen-Solal will read from her book, Mark Rothko: Toward the Light in the Chapel. On Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m., Sheriff’s Meadow director Adam Moore will talk about his book, A Year on Martha’s Vineyard. Please call the library at 508-645-3360 if you have any questions about the two programs.

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.