For most of the year the red house halfway down DH’s Hill (many call it Menemsha hill, but if Eric Cottle were still here he would reprimand the misnomer) sits quiet and dark, but come July the lights are on and it is filled with the joy being in Menemsha brings. It was a lengthily journey for Bill Kirkland who traveled from Panama to smell the salt air and listen to the bell buoy. It was worth it even if it took a few days to get over the travel fatigue. The front door may as well be converted to a revolving one with three generations taking turns keeping Bill company. One of these afternoons he will sit a spell on Squid Row and catch up with old friends.

I spotted soon-to-be, nine-year-old, Harriet Robinson, in Menemsha the other day. She was leading her parents Liz (Delaney) and John and grandparents (whose names I didn’t retain, sorry) around all of the most special sites including the touch tank, the beach, the dock and, of course, Larsen’s where Liz worked as a teen. Harriet has, of course, has also spent quality time with her cousins Jack and Greta Lenkner and their parents Erin and Travis.

Tory and Will Dolan were pretty happy when their daughters Emma and Kate took a little time to visit even if working remotely had to be factored in. Tegan Fenner and Brooks Carroll were even more excited when the Dolan’s son, Will, paid a visit to town. The boy-men have been buddies since their days off CCC camp, beach outings and The Bite fries. It’s always nice to get the gang back together. Now, if we could only coordinate overlapping visits from Theo Stanley and Fynn Monahan.

In honor of Mary “Miss J” Jacobsen’s first year teaching at the Chilmark School, Sloan Hart is making a conscious effort to organize a reunion of sorts. The year was 1976 and many of you had her as a teacher then, and in the many years to follow. If you have a story to tell, an anecdote to share, a photo to commemorate a memory, reach out to Sloan. You can find her on Facebook at “Chilmark School Reunion,” jot her off an email at [email protected] or reach out to me for her number or snail mail. To kick off the celebrating, Chilmark School classmates Christian Sarason, Chris Carroll and Alicia Fenner Knight gathered on Squid Row with Sloan by FaceTime from her home in California. What fun.

Just like the Island has the “big three” week of illumination, fair and fireworks, Chilmark has what I call, overload week. It is almost upon us and kicks off with the MV Book Festival taking over the CCC grounds on August 1 to 3. Annie Treitman shared this year’s lineup featuring 30 leading authors, a great group of moderators and special guests. You can find the full scoop on their website.

After a couple days of rest, the CCC grounds will be commandeered by the Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association Backyard Bash. Mark Wednesday, August 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. on your calendar. Newsflash, the firefighter’s will be going old school by flipping burgers and serving up watermelon like the good ol’ days. Bring some cash or tuck a credit card in your pocket. It’s a fundraiser after all.

There’s no rest for the weary. The following afternoon, August 7, from 3 to 7 p.m., the Fishermen’s Preservation Trust will hold the annual Meet the Fleet event on Menemsha harbor. If you are interested in lending a hand with merchandise sales, fish printing, crab races and more, please fill out the online form easily found on their website or give a board member a shout. John, Shelley, Emily, Matt and the rest of the gang can help keep you busy.

Wrapping up the festivities means lacing up those running shoes. Saturday, August 9, is the annual Chilmark Road Race. Having been run for the first time in 1978, it’s fast approaching the 50th anniversary.

Although the rain cut the weekly softball game short, Sig Van Raan shares Ed Edgers home run, called a Kerouac because they typically land On the Road, made it into the woods. The players weren’t sure what to call it, but are toying with calling it a Ginsburg.