If you’ve been a regular visitor to the Chilmark Flea Market, you’ve likely perused the wares of Jane Neumann. A fixture for decades, Jane can rightfully claim she’s been the longest running peddler of wares. Her record will be hard to beat, but once the Flea on Saturday, Sept. 2 comes to an end, Jane will pack up her goods and bid farewell to the long-standing summer event.

Jane is full of interesting facts, a delightful conversationalist and dear friend to many, including me. She will be missed by her neighboring vendors, but she will still be around town a bit longer for stories, tales and hugs.

From what I hear there was quite a gathering to celebrate our friend, neighbor and former fire chief Stan Mercer. Stan joined the nonagenarian club last week. According to Margaret Maida, she, Stan and Eric Cottle all shared the same birthday. What fun Menemsha Crossroad must have been when the three of them were neighbors.

As an aside, after thinking about my gone but not forgotten friend Eric Cottle, I took to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum website and watched his interview about the deaf community in Chilmark. What a treat to see him and hear his voice again.

The family of Bob Ganz will gather on Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury and invites all to join them to share stories, memories and hopefully a few laughs about Bob and his long life. Although his family has begun preparing some old family recipes for the gathering, friends are most welcome to bring a dish to share — but, in typical Chilmarker fashion, it’s not necessary.

Daughter Claire notes a very special thank you to her dear friend and neighbor Heather Goff, who lovingly created the urn for Bob’s ashes. Each time one glances at her handiwork it prompts a smile and a few moments of fond remembrance.

When I bumped into Betsy Cornwall at the post office the other day, she prefaced our chat with, “This isn’t column worthy.” I beg to differ. Betsy baked some truly fabulous brownies that earned her a shiny blue ribbon at the MV Agricultural Fair. We all know there is some really stiff competition so a blue ribbon is worthy of a little celebration.

Other Fair news, from over the border in Aquinnah, brings a little excitement from the Fruchtman family. Joanne was please to see a bright blue ribbon adorning her stitchery. While beaming with joy, the family wandered to the baked goods table to find yet another blue ribbon proudly displayed on granddaughter Sophia Primmer’s lemon blueberry muffins. Two weeks later the family is still feeling the thrill of their accomplishments.

Congratulations to Derek and Tiffany Nagengast on the arrival of their second child. Little boy Everett joins his big sister Adeline and, of course, a joyful extended family including a very proud grandmother, Deb Nagengast.

We were thrilled to have Iggy’s Bread and Sey Coffee pop under the roof of the Texaco last weekend. Their decadence offered an alternative to our surly — yes, that’s what we refer to it as — coffee and Hostess donuts. Graham Lindner and Marie Janiszewski brewed with confidence, big smiles and gracious small talk. Iggy and Ludmilla Ivanovic brought pastries, chatted with the crowd, strummed a ukulele and took it all in while I watched in genuine awe.

The college kids and teens are slowly saying their farewells as they have their last days of summer work in preparation to return to the buzz and hum of school work. Lathrop Keene celebrated his last day working for the harbor department with a backflip into the water and an almost-immediate shift to thinking about prepping for the upcoming 78th Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

September is upon us. Although Labor Day weekend has evolved into a last fling of summer, please be reminded to be kind to and grateful of those who are working this weekend. Remember the little things: please and thank you go a long way.

I will leave you with something I always say, “It’s easier to be nice than mean. You will gain nothing from being a mean person. Ever.”