For those who choose the role of visitor, July begins on a sharp and crisp note. Shirts are tucked in and hair is properly pulled back into neat pony tails. As the month comes to an end those same folks have pink cheeks, bare feet, hair that flows in the breeze, a bit of a blurred look and cars that are now laden with grains of sand as their month of summery adventure comes to a close. August has arrived, with new faces fresh for adventure.

We say farewell for now to Harriet Goldberg and Don Weitzman who have called Chilmark home for July for as many years as I can remember. Daughter Lily managed to escape the city heat of Brookline and paid her folks a long weekend visit. The family strolled Menemsha, as they have done since Lily toddled into the Texaco, coins in hand to purchase her favorite ice cream pop, while her parents watched from the doorway. Sadly, we cannot get the Hood Rocket anymore, but the fond memory is still there.

Theo, the 16-year-old grandson of Jon and Marie (Fischer) Scott (who chose to remain in Boston for the summer to focus on playing soccer) paid a visit to family and friends this past weekend. Summer is different without Theo in the mix, but for a few short days life felt normal as he caught up with cousins, including Tristan and Charlotte, the teen and tween offspring of Josh and Lindsey (Hauck) Scott. Theo also plopped himself down on my couch as if the home of Brooks Carroll was his own. Isn’t it nice to have friends with whom you can pick up with right where you left off even if many months have passed?

Last week I mentioned I had some information from the Chilmark Cemetery Commission to share. Judie Flanders clued me in on these details: there is now a source of water at the cemetery for public use in refreshing flowers and plants brought to the cemetery. A big thank you goes out to Laurisa and Tim Rich, who donated and installed a rain barrel located on the east side of the parking area adjacent to the maintenance shed. Please note that the water from the barrel, installed with the assistance of cemetery superintendent Susan Murphy, is not potable. This is such a simple and sensible solution to having to bring water from home.

Jennifer Christy’s colorful artwork adorns the wall of the Field Gallery for just a few days, so be sure to step inside and immerse yourself in her inspiring color. The July 28 opening was a pleasurable event for all in attendance including her teen daughters Wren and El.

Although there will be celebrations and fanfare to come, I’d like to shout out a heartfelt thank you to David Norton who has served faithfully as our fire chief. David has always been there when we needed him and for that I am thankful. He will turn over the keys to longtime department member and former assistant chief Jeremy Bradshaw.

Join your friends, family and community at the Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association annual Backyard Bash to be held on the ball field at the center of town from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7. Burgers, hot dogs, T-shirts, music and more can be found at this good old-fashioned get-together. It’s also the perfect place to shake hands with David and celebrate a job well done.

Send Chilmark news to squidrow@vineyard.net.