Chilmark, brace yourself. Here it comes, vacation season 2016! The season is off with great weather and plenty of enthusiasm from all of who have been waiting for the sunshine! Beach plum bushes are all in bloom with their bright white flowers this week, let’s hope the bees are here!

One of our Menemsha neighbors was surprised by a visit from a yellow-billed cuckoo. The handsome bird hit his window and he was able to pick up the bird and photograph it. The cuckoo is not a regular visitor to Menemsha but sightings are not uncommon. It flew off uninjured.

The seasonal businesses are open all over town and there is a general feeling of readiness in the air.

Parts of the Middle Road have been paved and the lines will be painted this week.

Congratulations to Lynn and Susan Murphy, who will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on May 28. Their many Chilmark friends send them best wishes for the happy occasion.

Chilmark was saddened this week to learn of the death of Eileen Mayhew, long a part of the year-round community of Chilmark. She was the heart and soul of her large family that she and her late husband, Ben Mayhew, raised and educated in Chilmark. She is survived by her children, Benjamin Jr. (Skipper), Margaret, Gregory, and Jonathan, and their families. Her husband and daughter Eileen predeceased her. Eileen’s family and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive her. We send condolences to all who knew and loved her. She will always be missed. Her lively spirit contributed to many Chilmark activities of a generation ago and she is well and warmly remembered by most of Chilmark.

Dennis Jason is happy to tell us of family weddings coming up. His daughter, Samantha Nichols Jason, will be married on June 11 to David Lehman of New York. Friends and family will attend the wedding at Lake Winnipesaukee.

Son Dennis Michael Jason and Jesse Keller will be married in October in West Tisbury and begin their married life in their newly constructed home at Nab’s Corner on South Road. Jesse works for The Yard in Chilmark. Cheers to all!

Bill Vincent came last weekend from Niskayuna, N.Y. to open the family home on South Road. He plans to return soon for an extended visit and will be accompanied by his twin grand-girls and their parents, Nick and Katie Persons.

We welcome back some familiar faces. Roz Glazer is at her summer home and will be joined by family as the season advances. Jackie Mendez-Diaz is back to walking her dog, Minnie, on North Road.

The Darling family was in residence last week getting the summer home ready for Della Darling’s arrival this week. Susan Greely and brothers Scott and Peter were all here. Scott went fishing and was happy to catch three stripers off the family beach and happy to report that one was a keeper. The family is celebrating 75 years at their Stonewall Beach home.

Diane Shaib and Paul Kretschmann will open their Middle Road home to the 37th Chilmark reunion of friends and family. Roger and Alice So, David Fluhrer and MaryAnn Skinner, Linda and Vic Cenci and daughter Erica, and the Kretschmann’s daughter, Kate will make up the party. The family began their Chilmark residency on South Road and moved to their home on Middle Road in 1983.

We are reminded that their will be a Martha’s Vineyard author’s lecture series this summer at the Chilmark Community Center. The first program will be on July 21 at 7:30 p.m. with Geraldine Brooks talking about her novel The Secret Chord. We will note more details as the summer progresses. You may check out the lecture series by going to: mvbookfestival.com

The Chilmark Historical Commission will be dedicating and putting in place a newly-made plaque that marks the location of the first Chilmark town hall. It was located on Middle Road and the stone wall bounding it remains in place. The bronze plaque is made from an old photo of the building with the stone wall in the picture. Alan Gowell, stonecutter, has placed the plaque in a stone from the wall that will now be replaced in the wall. A dedication program will be announced for the near future. The public is invited to stop and view the stone with plaque that is currently in the front yard of the present town hall.

Cheers to all for a happy holiday with our many returning friends, family, guests and visitors!

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.