It began last Saturday morning with the 47th running of the Chilmark Road Race and will wrap up Sunday evening when the 162nd MV Agricultural Fair closes its doors. Sprinkled in between are Illumination Night and the Oak Bluffs fireworks. It’s a week of early rises and late to beds. It’s a week of fair food, grungy feet, fatigued children and sun-kissed cheeks. It’s a week of memory making, laughter and a whole lot of both eager anticipation and heartfelt reminiscing.

The Chilmark Road Race was run this past Saturday with a few Chilmarker notables. Six-year-old Gryphon Kurth crossed the finish line first for her age group with a time of 35 minutes 43 seconds. Cash Rykowski crossed first in his age group, with Cormac Moriarty crossing next and Shep Rykowski just a bit after. Teenager Jack Lionette took the second place overall spot. Sam Feldman was one of two nonagenarians to clock a time. A few other top tens in their divisions, to name a few, include Maeve Moriarty, Wren Christy, Margaret Hannemann, Finn Moriarty, Latham Kurth and Rob Doyle.

Chilmark softballers handed out their annual awards at Flanders Field this past weekend. Since one of my old time favorites, Bill Edison, is no longer with us, it’s a rarity that I get the softball scoop shared with me on yellow lined legal paper or in any form for that matter.

This week, proud dad Ted shared that 20-year-old Lily Bernhard was awarded the “Young Star Chilmark Softball” trophy. She has joined her dad as faithfully as possible Sunday mornings for the past few summers. According to Ted, there were some very kind words said not only about Lily — as a hard working shortstop, always wearing a smile on her face — but also the importance of the growing youth attendance. Ted revels in the lighthearted and inclusive athletic competition of Chilmark softball that lifts spirits every Sunday with many laughs and the occasional good play. Lily was genuinely thrilled with the recognition she received and humbly takes it with her as she embarks on a semester abroad in Denmark.

Get ready to laugh for a cause. Emmy Award-winning comedian and late-night notable Seth Meyers is bringing his humor to the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center for a special benefit show for the Chilmark Preschool’s new building project the evening of August 28. Tickets can be found on the eventbrite website.

Our ever-so-organized town clerk, Jennifer Christy, reminds us that the state primary election is Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the CCC. There are multiple opportunities to vote early should you not be able to cast your ballot that day, so be sure to reach out to the town hall for the schedule.

Congratulations to Phoebe Walsh, last year’s Martha’s Vineyard Seafood Collaborative’s manager, who said yes to long time beau Zac Wheeler’s proposal. The two haven’t set a date yet, but they stopped by for a quick visit while vacationing to share the news in person and show off the ring-finger bling.

Alysse Fischer, Dan Doty and their three kiddos Duke, Jude and Wilderness ventured to town from their home in Maine. They’ve spent plenty of time frolicking on Dutcher Dock and in Crab Corner, often with fishing poles slung over their shoulders. A little quality time with the extended Fischer clan has been cause for smiles.

To say she wore many hats is, perhaps, an understatement. She was the Chilmark postmaster. She crafted with wood and spoke highly of her time at the Bennett Street School. She was on a first name basis with Jaws’s Bruce the shark. She was a dog mom to Hamish, a blueberry farmer, mooring maintainer for many and Squid Row music supporter. She shared a strong voice as a member of the Chilmark finance advisory committee and was the stalwart caretaker of Abel’s Hill Cemetery. Susan Murphy was also the mother of the late Lynn Murphy, Jr. and Lucas, mother-in-law to Trish and grandmother to Tracy. Simply said, she will be sorely missed and when the time is right, we will gather to celebrate her.