Chilmark is getting used to being a quieter place. Take advantage of the lighter traffic this week and admire the old stonewalls newly exposed by landscaping along South Road in the neighborhood of Abel’s Hill. They are beautiful old walls that haven’t been seen in a while. Thanks to whoever is responsible. While on South Road take a minute to look at the Mayhew Meinelt house. It is a lesson in what it takes to restore an old house. That house was built in 1713 by the ancestors of the same Mayhew descendants who own it today. It looks like the beginning of a big project.

Chilmark had a busy week of sun and fun and welcomed a large number of visitors, fishermen and travelers. Hopefully, all enjoyed the sunny days and maybe some good fishing. The menus locally seemed to indicate that the fish were biting!

 Chilmark is a unique town. I have been thinking about the upcoming town meetings and the Chilmark voters who will turn out. They are a serious bunch who see red flags when certain words and phrases come into the discussions. I am thinking of a few that always meet the red flag of hesitation. “All the other towns do it,” or “they do it that way down-Island,” and “how about this,” and “it won’t cost a lot more.” I am sure you can all add to this list! Anyway, let’s start getting ready for our special town meeting coming up in October and learn what will be on the warrant.

Chilmark has survived another summer. Things look pretty much as always; the wear shows more on the faces of those who made it a great summer for others than on the roadsides. The word survival seems to be in the local people’s vocabulary this week. It was a wonderful summer and, many residents, visitors and seasonal residents had a grand time.

Chilmark’s old houses are getting some respect these days. Last week a good number of interested people joined Adam Moore of Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation for a tour of the Mayhew Hancock Mitchell house at Quansoo sponsored by the Chilmark Historical Commission. The house is undergoing extensive restoration and is currently under an enormous tent that allows work to go on in all weather.

Chilmark had a hangover this week . . . too much pleasure all compacted into one week. The buzz was about how wonderful Illumination Night, the fireworks and the fair were, fun for everyone. The roadsides are beginning to look a little dusty, the fields are browning and the month is clearly turning. Boats are gone from dockside, faces are changing on Squid Row and lines are getting shorter at our favorite eating places, all the familiar happenings that move us to September. Now let’s hope Mother Nature remembers to cool our days down a notch.

Chilmark will have to speak for itself this week. Who can keep track of all that is going on in the epicenter of the news world? We are enjoying the vacation visit of the President and his family; we are excited by the brief visits to Chilmark by a former president, a candidate (almost) for president and who knows who else! It would boggle even a professional columnist! I will take a moment to send birthday wishes to Vernon Jordan who has come to Chilmark for his summer vacations for many years and manages to keep a very low profile. Those of us privileged to know and respect him try to protect that privacy but the birthday bash held for his 80th birthday was spectacular and we are happy that he was so honored. Cheers to you, Vernon.

Chilmark knows how to throw a party. The large crowd that attended the Meet the Fleet festivities last Thursday will agree. There was music, visits, tours, food and T-shirts. What more could we want? One highlight of the day was the presence in our harbor of the fishing boat Roann, now property of Mystic Seaport but once a familiar fishing boat in Vineyard waters. We were able to tour the boat and appreciate the efforts that Mystic has made to restore this classic boat.

Chilmark certainly noticed that it was well represented on the front page of last week’s Gazette! Congratulations to our popular couple of 65 years, Jim and Roberta Morgan. I hope you had time to read Chilmarker Mollie Doyle’s enjoyable profile of the Morgans. It set the scene for the Meet the Fleet day scheduled for Thursday at the harbor. We looked forward to hearing tales from Jim on that occasion as he always remembers an appropriate story for every event.

Chilmark is looking forward to a fun week with the Meet the Fleet day on Thursday, August 6. The Fishermen’s Preservation Trust is sponsoring and planning this event. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. and go on until 7 p.m. There will be a tent on the bulkhead and fishermen will be there to show the public their fishing boats and their skills with shellfish, opening and cleaning and preparing fish.