Chilmark’s summer season is underway. There are many hints to assure us this is true. The traffic on the weekend of cars of every vintage, bikes, motorcycles and pedestrians was the obvious clue and the general good mood of the visitors spoke of some happy reunions and celebrations to come. There were a number of tents around town at the usual wedding locations and that increased our visitor count also.

Chilmark has lost some of the wonderful folks who make up the tight-knit fabric of our lives on Martha’s Vineyard. This week we send condolences to several families who are missing some of these people.

Condolences to the families and friends of Shirley Tilton, who lived in Vineyard Haven but was connected to much more of the Island by family and by her active career. She will be missed by her family and friends and has left us many memories.

Chilmark enjoyed a steamy hot spring day today as I write midweek, but we are reminded that it is still spring and we are still on an island when the fog rolls in and out all day. On Tuesday a group of four U.S. senators hosted a premiere screening of the new National Geographic documentary, American Heroes Fishing Challenge.

Chilmark is deep into openings and new beginnings. Most of the town businesses are either opening this weekend or next. The Chilmark Store will open May 10; The Bite and the Galley, both Menemsha eateries, will open May 16, with Beetlebung Café following on May 20. The Beach Plum Inn restaurant is open from Thursday through Sunday for the next couple of weeks, and the Home Port Restaurant will open on Memorial Day weekend.