Chilmark is now on the downhill side of the first long weekend of the season and our hope is that the sun will return and stay with us so that our visitors will want to return! The weather was grim until the actual holiday itself when the sun was bright on the parades and picnics. Some of the weddings scheduled for Saturday and Sunday had to make do with some real New England-style weather. One such wedding was seen taking place on the Lucy Vincent Beach — that union has met the test!

Chilmark enjoyed a busy but rainy Mother’s Day weekend. It is usually the first weekend of visits from seasonal residents and the first holiday weekend that feels like spring. Most businesses will open this coming weekend, although some were ready for the early visitors. The restaurants are mostly open now. The Beach Plum Inn restaurant will be open Thursday through Sundays this month with a Sunday Supper Series. The Galley and The Bite will both open May 16, and the Beetlebung Café will open on May 2.

Chilmark welcomed May with a cheery sunny day. Lots of fruit trees are blooming and the last of the daffodils and tulips are still nodding but in a lot less wind than last week. In a more innocent time in Chilmark, the 1st of May was marked by the hanging of May baskets on the doors of popular young people. The tradition was an old one and carried into the 20th century. Baskets containing candy and flowers were placed on doorsteps or hung on doorknobs. Groups of friends would prepare and deliver the basket after dark.

Chilmark joins the rest of the world in sending good wishes to the injured, condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed and a plea for peace for us all, after the dreadful bombing in Boston.