Chilmark heads into the last two weeks of summer with lots of enthusiasm and plenty of plans yet to be realized. There are lots of people and more sunny days to complete the mix...let’s hope we can all keep up the pace for another two weeks. I am looking forward to the Fair to become the focus of our up-Island lives and putting politics, Olympics and all other distractions to the side while we enjoy each others company at the fairgrounds for a few days.

Andrew and Ellen Jacknain are happy to have family visiting their Larsen Lane home this week. Their daughter, Liz Kuit and her husband Jake with daughters Scarlett and Lorelei are arriving from Brooklyn for a week’s visit. The Jacknains’ son, Giles, is coming from Chicago next weekend with his friend Brennan Dorn from Washington, D.C.

The 39th annual Chilmark Road Race took place on Saturday last in some extraordinary heat but the runners were successful in finishing. Congratulations to all who ran and to the Hugh Weisman family who faithfully stage this successful fundraiser for the community center every year

The Chilmark library has announced the winners of the annual Elisa Brickner Poetry Contest. This is the 21st year that the library has held the contest for young adults. This year the high school first place goes to Sam Kass, the high school second place to Juliette Jeffers, the junior high first place went to Amelia Sanchirio, and second place to Anabelle Biggs. The winning poems can be read in the Elisa Brickner book at the library. Congratulations to the winners from us all!

The Vineyard Gazette and the Martha’s Vineyard Boards of Health are conducting an online survey to gauge the community awareness of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses and to learn what the community attitudes are toward potential activities to reduce the incidence of Lyme and related diseases. To participate in the survey please go to: vineyardgazette.com/tick-survey.

Chilmark library is hosting The Frisbee Show on Tuesday, August 23 at 12:30 p.m. The whole family is invited for a presentation by Freestyle Frisbee World Champion Todd Brodeur. There is no charge and all are welcome at the library. The program is part of the Summer Reading Program that is celebrating physical fitness and is called On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!

The Chilmark library will host a book talk on Wednesday, August 24 at 5 p.m. by Dr. Peter Kramer. He will talk about his new book, Ordinarily Well: The Case for Antidepressants. Dr. Kramer is a psychiatrist who is a faculty member of Brown Medical School specializing in clinical depression. The program is free and sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark library.

Chilmark artist Wendy Weldon’s recent paintings have been at the Field Gallery this month. I am sorry I missed telling you about her opening however the Field Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.