Signs that summer is coming to an end:

Milkweed pods have burst in meadows and at marshy edges around the Island, scattering their seed-strewn silky puffs.

Tiny wild purple and white asters have begun to bloom.

The light has changed, casting shadows at different angles now late in the afternoon.

Bluefish are running again off Cape Pogue.

Cool mornings demand a light sweater.

Parking spaces are suddenly available in down-Island towns.

Harvey Burrell was recently selected to receive a Curb Scholarship in Creative Enterprise and Public Leadership at Vanderbilt University, highlighting his strong record of creative achievement, leadership and public service.

The Curb Scholars program prepares students to imagine, invent, develop and implement innovations, and to critically engage the way innovation shapes the public good.

As I write, Chilmark is sharing another beautiful sunset with what sometimes seems to be most of the civilized world . . . or at least as many of them as can fit into Menemsha. We have had lots of nice sunsets this season and lots of people have been here to appreciate them. This leads me to comment on one visitor who has a different idea than the rest of us on the meaning of crowded.

What a great pleasure to finally try the Little House Cafe on State Road just past Surveyors Lane. I had no idea this adorable restaurant had already been opened for three years, year-round, before I had a chance to try it for lunch yesterday. Everything is prepared fresh, dinners are served from Wednesday through Saturday nights, and wine and beer are available. The menu is interesting and eclectic. Handicap access is wonderful. Nonna and I enjoyed it so. Our server was the lovely Paulina from my neighborhood. We’ll see you there.

Today is the start of the long holiday weekend. Labor Day is on Monday and the end of the high summer season. All municipal buildings and the post office will be closed. The VTA buses begin their fall schedule on Tuesday and the SSA schedule changes on Thursday. We have had excellent weather, but, sadly, all good things must come to an end, as school starts on Thursday. Many other school systems in the commonwealth opened last week. There were several end-of-the-season parties last weekend and a few more are planned over the holiday weekend. If you have to go downtown you will immediately notice the drop in the volume of automobile traffic and you might even find a parking place. It is time to bid farewell to all of our August visitors. We hope you enjoyed yourselves and will come back again next year.

Grace Episcopal Church has named Penelope Wong of Vineyard Haven as the interim director of Grace Preschool, effective Sept. 1. The staff change was necessitated by the resignation of Deborah Jernegan as the Grace Preschool director.

Ms. Wong is well-known on Martha’s Vineyard for her work with Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Learning Center, the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard and, most recently, the Tisbury School, where she worked as a kindergarten assistant, teacher, ELL assistant and coordinator.

RICK HERRICK

508-693-8065

(herricklr@verizon.net)

I recently sat down with Liz Durkee, the Oak Bluffs town conservation agent, for an update on environmental concerns that relate to East Chop. She mentioned two of immediate interest.

The Tabernacle and Cottage City Historical District are the jewels of Martha’s Vineyard. Recognizing that wholly chauvinistic comment — even from the writer of said town’s column, an elementary historical review illustrates how they helped to make the Island so popular. Some came to pray, some came to play — and many chose to stay. Sally Dagnall’s remarkable book, Circle of Faith (I got a signed copy at Cousen Rose) has a “List of Firsts & Important Dates” of the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, a fact-filled chronology of the years 1835 to 2006.

Silvania and Paulo Rodrigues of Edgartown announce the birth of a daughter, Anna Luiza Rodrigues, born on August 24, 2012 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Anna weighed 6 pounds, 4.5 ounces at birth. Anna joins big brother Marcos and big sister Gleyzi.

Emilly and Thiago Chaves of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Bianca Alves Chaves, born on August 27 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Bianca weighed 6 pounds, 6.5 ounces at birth.