The near perfect stretch of weather the post-Fourth week provided a solid foundation for family visitors at the Hannemanns’ High Mark home. Rob and Margaret’s eight-year-old granddaughter Emma has been visiting from Manhattan. The youngest granddaughter, Lula, who is almost two, and her parents Laura and Ross arrived from their home in San Francisco for an extended stay. Since grandchildren are made to be loved it’s been all hands on deck when it comes to making their visit memorable.

Fun in the sun at Lucy Vincent, adventures to Menemsha and, yes, even down-Island field trips have topped the festivities list. Their doors will remain open through next month when their grandson arrives for what is fondly referred to as Camp High Mark. Stay tuned for excerpts from his visit.

Jane Slater’s Basin Road home was equally full with visitors this past weekend. Daughter Sarah Bennett was in town with her husband Aaron and sons Scott and Jack. Son Caleb and his wife Chris and daughter Celia are sticking around for a bit longer. Celia celebrated her 20th birthday on the 16th. While the whole gang was in town there were numerous boat rides, a whole bunch of fishing and some lobstering thrown into the mix.

Peter and Sally Cook are back from their travels to France and Switzerland. Granddaughter Maeve and her folks Caitlin and Calder joined them in Paris where they celebrated Maeve’s 10th birthday. From there, the group traveled to Versailles where Caitlin was born in 1970 and then it was on to Louveciennes where the Cook family lived while Peter was a teacher at the American School of Paris.

Their adventure provided an opportunity to visit friends in Paris and Brittany and then with family in Chamonix where Peter’s nephew, D. Sculley, age 42, ran a mountain marathon in summer heat. He crossed the finish line after more than eight grueling hours on the course. The final days of their trip ended with a visit to Sally’s cousins near Geneva. Although the trip was memorable and spectacular, they are happy to be back at their South Road home.

It was a big weekend for the 14-and-under Vineyard Babe Ruth baseball team which includes Chilmark kids Silas Abrams, Jakie Glasgow and Atlas Zack. There were some ups and downs to their off-Island tournament in Sandwich but it ended with them defeating Gateway eight-five and, therefore returning home with a championship win. Way to go boys!

I had the opportunity to meet wide-eyed Elliott, the sweet new baby boy who joined big sister Mia, mom Gabriela Herman and dad Tyson Evans for a spell on Squid Row. Although the five-week-old was napless that afternoon, he was alert and, as a teen might say, pretty chill. Big sister Mia chatted for a few minutes, checked out the crabs in the touch tank and then scampered off to see Betsy at Larsen’s.

Russell Cleary, captain of F/V Skipjack, popped in to Menemsha for a visit. I usually see him in passing and rarely have an opportunity to have a conversation but he caught me at a quiet moment and we had a chance to catch up. It’s always nice to see familiar faces but nicer to be able to pass a few minutes chatting and reminiscing.

Brad Tucker, Shawn Barber, Geordie Gude and Devaney Pickering appeared one by one on Squid Row this past Sunday evening for a little jam session. They plucked, tooted, sang, laughed and entertained. I’m appreciative when I am the lucky recipient of talented entertainment.

Albert Fischer’s photography is hanging in the Chilmark branch of the MV Savings Bank through July 26. I was pleased to receive a sweet invite text to his opening reception and equally as displeased to have to miss it. I have, however enjoyed doing my banking surrounded by his work that truly captures the essence of a place I call home.

Save that date: the MV Fishermen’s Preservation Trust will hold its fourth annual Meet the Fleet along the commercial dock from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 2. This free event is a great opportunity to meet our local fishermen and celebrate our working waterfronts.

Chilmark news can be sent to squidrow@vineyard.net.