JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Chilmark bravely celebrated the weekend chosen to be the Memorial Day weekend in weather of assorted stripe. It was earlier than the traditional weekend and maybe that explains the cold and foggy days we had in town. Some folks went swimming and there were the usual family reunions with outdoor picnics. There were several ceremonies in honor of our veterans and a number of celebrations of the end of winter and the beginning of the summer season.

The American Legion honored Merchant Mariners this weekend by dedicating a plaque to the honor of the men who served from the Vineyard in World War II. They were the men who sailed the supply ships around the world for the United States. We are proud and happy they honored mariners from Chilmark, Louis Larsen and James Morgan.

Congratulations to Brian Cioffi, Chilmark policeman who has been chosen by the selectmen to be our new police chief. He will begin his duties as chief on July 1 when the present chief, Tim Rich, retires after 30 years on the job. Cheers to all!

Many thanks to Roberta Morgan, who circulated a petition a few months ago requesting the painting of fog lines on North Road. The white lines at the road’s edge are helpful on dark and foggy nights. We thank the powers that be for the addition to our roads!

We send condolences to the family and friends of Priscilla Smith Cranshaw, who died at her home in Maine on May 25. She had been a seasonal resident of Menemsha most of her life and had many friends and family here who will miss her. Both Stanley Smith and Henry Cranshaw predeceased her. Her children are Phil Smith of Alaska and Carol Whittier and Hariff Smith of Winthrop, Maine, where services will be held.

The weekend saw the opening of two newly owned restaurants in town. The Chilmark Tavern is now open for dinners and has been well spoken of, and the Home Port Restaurant opened under new ownership and has been well attended. They will be closed on Monday and Tuesday this coming week. The Menemsha Café will continue to be closed on Mondays until further notice.

Paul, Diane and Kate Kretschmann of Greenwich, Conn., came to Chilmark for their 30th continuous Memorial Day reunion with their NYU friends. Their guests were Vic and Linda Cenci and their daughter Erica, MaryAnn Skinner and David Fluhrer, David Sternberg and MaryEllen Killgallen, Roger and Alice So and Richard Shen. As always, they had a grand time!

Congratulations to Hugh Weisman of New York city and Chilmark who celebrated his 70th birthday over the weekend with many friends and family in attendance. Cheers from us all!

June 1 marks the beginning of the summer expanded hours at the Chilmark library. The Tuesday hours will extend until 5:30 p.m. and the library will be open on Fridays until 1:30 p.m. Come and enjoy!

We send best wishes to Dr. Howard Harrison who had knee replacement surgery this month in Boston. He has been recovering at his home on D.H.’s Hill and will soon return to his Florida home where he will be able to walk on level ground!

The Rev. Arlene Bodge will be the guest preacher at the Chilmark Community Church at 9 a.m. on May 31.

Larsen Lane was a busy place this week as many of the seasonal residents were in residence. Bill Gilmour and his daughter, Betsy, and her husband, Bill, all of Wayland, were at their homes. Charles and Marjorie Phillips have opened their home for the season, coming from Lexington, Va. Their daughter, Susan Weber, and her children, Anna and Owen, of Union, Maine, joined them for a few days vacation.

Andrew and Ellen Jacknain of Washington, D.C., have opened their Larsen Lane home, as have Arne and Helen de Keijzer who came from Weston, and Arnie Reisman and Paula Lyons who also opened their Larsen Lane home for the season.

Deborah Freed and her children, Miriam, Jonah and Shoshanna Boardman, came from Cambridge for a holiday weekend with Deborah’s parents, Norman and Diana Freed, at their State Road home.

The Bank of Martha’s Vineyard, Chilmark branch, will host an art show of works offered by Indian Hill Fine Art. Scott Bermudes will welcome the public to a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 5 at the bank.