Chilmark is still enjoying the happy memories of two mid-summer events that took place last week. The volunteer firefighters’ annual backyard bash was a big success with a perfect evening combined with good food and many folks present to enjoy the music and the community visit. And the next evening found many of the same folks at the Meet The Fleet get together at Menemsha. There was a free raw bar, music, tours of many fishing boats, and crab races. Who could ask for more? It was a wonderful event enjoyed by all. The Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust planned it to perfection. We hope they are already busy planning next year’s event!

Menemsha has been the focal point of many vacations and the harbor has been full of beautiful boats. Fishing has been a constant with some reporting success. Scott McDowell, a charter boat captain, reports a catch of a huge bluefish that weighed 21 pounds, a big fish in the bluefish world. Congratulations from us all.

Michael Drezner and Liz Gude were happy to have Liz’s daughter Sarah Commerford and her son Ian visit along with daughter Anna Maddan and Matthew. Liz’s son, Clay Scoble, his wife Laura and son Fin completed the August reunion.

Bob and Bonnie George of Quansoo enjoyed a July visit from their daughter Emily and her husband Ian Neugeborn, who were here to celebrate the first birthday of their daughter, Eloise.

Frances Lehman, 96, of Wilmette, Ill., is in town this week to visit her family home for the 51st summer. Her daughter Kay Schlozman, her husband Stanley and their son Daniel are also enjoying the summer at the Prospect Hill home.

Shirley Reese of Weston and Larsen Lane enjoyed a visit in Menemsha last week from her daughter Claire Schiff, her husband Zak Zandler, and their children Noemie and Lucien, all of Bordeaux, France.

The League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyard will host a candidate forum on Wednesday, August 17 at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury starting at 4:30 p.m. State Sen. Dan Wolf and Rep. Tim Madden are both retiring this year and there are 12 candidates for their offices. The League invites us to attend the forum, listen to the candidates, and ask questions of them.

The final Author Series program will take place at the Chilmark Community Center on Sunday, August 14 when Jane Mayer will discuss her new work, Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. Please visit mvbookfestival.com for details.

Steve and Susan McGhee will be returning soon to their Menemsha home after a visit to Seattle to visit Steve’s son, Geoff, his wife Sarah, and their young daughter, Eleanor.

Musical meditations continue at the Chilmark Community Church on Sundays at 5 p.m. when Lia Kahler will play the piano for Vespers. All who wish are welcome to attend this quiet time for the next few summer Sunday evenings.

The popular lobster rolls to go event takes place at the Chilmark church every Tuesday from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

The Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank in Chilmark is hosting an art show of works by Anne Cook called Land, Sea, and Sky. The show opens on August 12 and runs through the 25th. The opening reception is Friday, August 12 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The show may be viewed during the regular bank hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The Friends of Middle Road will not be holding their annual meeting this year due to unforeseen circumstances. Those who wish to share thoughts or concerns or be added to the group email list may contact elisegreen@mindspring.com

Julie Flanders is proud to report that her daughter, Bella, with horse Reina, performed most successfully at the musical freestyle debut at the Green Mountain Horse Association dressage show in South Woodstock, Vt. where they won a blue ribbon. Bella and Reina also rode a Third Level Test 3 and won a blue ribbon. Caroline Herman and Toni Hanover of Woodbe Farm in West Tisbury also won blue ribbons and were champions in their divisions. Congratulations from us all.

The Chilmark library invites us all to a book talk on Wednesday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m. about The Healing Kitchen: Cooking with Nourishing Herbs for Health, Wellness, and Vitality, by local author and herbalist, Holly Bellebuono. The public is welcome at no charge and the Friends of the Chilmark library sponsor the program.

There will be a public presentation and discussion about ticks and tick-borne illnesses on Martha’s Vineyard on Monday, August 15 at 5 p.m. at the Chilmark library. Dick Johnson is the presenter and the Martha’s Vineyard Tick-Borne Illness Reduction Initiative is a program of the Island Boards of Health. The discussion will focus on where we are, where we are going and how you can help. Everyone is welcome at no charge.

And, for the record, I have not seen any of our illustrious guests yet, although I suspect the President was enjoying dinner at State Road on Tuesday evening. Let’s all wish them a happy vacation on our favorite vacation isle.

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.