Chilmark joins the rest of the Island in sending condolences to the family of Alexandro Garcia of Springfield, who died last Wednesday in a moped accident in our town. It is unfortunate that that means of transport has claimed so many on our Island. We know his friends and family will miss this young man, and we all hope no more will die this way. One hopes reasonable suggestions will be made soon that will make mopeds less of a threat

Michael, Susan and Mary Greeley of Foxboro joined Susan’s mother, Della Darling, at her Quitsa home to celebrate a significant birthday. The Darling family will gather on July 12 for a celebration of the life of the late Peter Darling who died earlier this year. All those who wish to join them are welcome from 4 to 7 p.m. at 7 Greenhouse Lane in Chilmark. Peter was a lifetime seasonal resident of Chilmark, and many miss his cheerful presence among us.

Bob Conway will celebrate his 91st birthday on July 16 at his Stonewall Beach home, and will enjoy a visit from his daughter Robin with her husband Tom Morley from Hackettstown, N.J., and granddaughter Tara and her husband John of New York city.

We send condolences to the family and friends of Sal Monteiro, a pressman at the Vineyard Gazette for many years who died unexpectedly this past week.

Sunset viewing at Menemsha Beach is a longtime tradition with regular visitors and a must see for newcomers . . . all discovering that the parking along North Road and the walk down D.H.’s Hill and back up is often a dangerous adventure. The narrow road is on a curve and drivers must watch for children, beach umbrellas, pets and many folks carrying all sorts of things. We welcome all, but are now happy to tell you that the selectmen have opened a parking lot on Tabor House Road and arranged for a shuttle bus to transport people to and from the beach from 4 to 9 p.m. Sounds like a very reasonable solution to a tough problem. Signs are being put up all over town to explain the parking location and the available transportation. We hope all will take advantage of the new service and spread the word to those who enjoy the summer sunsets from the Menemsha Beach. The parking ban along North Road will go into effect on August 1 daily from 4 to 9 p.m.

Perry and Judy Mehrling of Boulder View in Chilmark entertained Kemy and Janet Mullert of West Island, Fairhaven, over the holiday weekend.

Olive Mills is back for another summer week at the Klimm house in Menemsha. She is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Rasmus Klimm, a one-time Menemsha fisherman and first owner of the house overlooking the creek that his family still maintains and shares each summer. Olive, her grandmother, and her Aunt RaRa spent the holiday weekend enjoying the pleasures of the Vineyard.

We send condolences to the family and friends of Michael Standard who died at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on July 2. Michael and his family have been seasonal residents of Chilmark for several generations and have many friends here. A full obituary will be in a future issue of this paper.

The Chilmark library will host an author talk by Susie Middleton. She is the author of Fresh From the Farm: A Year of Recipes and Stories, and will speak on Wednesday, July 16, at 5 p.m. Susie owns Green Island Farm in West Tisbury and the book includes photographs of Island life. All are welcome at no charge and the program is sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library.

Hypnotherapist Aura Walker will be at the Chilmark Community Church from July 28 through August 7. She will offer treatments for stress, anxiety, trauma and also tips for holistic wellness and help with Lyme disease. She will also include suggestions for herb use. Please check out her website: aurawalkerhypnotherapy.com. Aura is a member of the Walker family who have been seasonal Chilmarkers for many generations on Cove Road overlooking Menemsha Pond.

Lloyd and Sue Miller are enjoying the summer visits of their daughter in law Nadia Miller and her sons Elias, 18, and Ethan, 9. Elias has worked with his grandfather each year to construct an annual sculpture using 68 four-by-eight boards. Each year the resulting structure is unique. In 2011 this paper carried a picture of one called The Twist. This year’s work is entitled Triangles. The family live down off Wade’s Cove, so few will view this clever use of summer time!

Chilmark artist Linda Thompson will display her paintings at the Santander Bank in Chilmark until Thursday, July 17. Her reception will be tonight, Friday, July 11, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Jennifer Coor will show her recent paintings at the Santander Bank in Chilmark on Friday, July 18, with an opening from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jennifer has been a summer resident of Chilmark since the 1960s and lives in Cambridge in the winters. She is a gardener and painter and her paintings depict local scenes.

Seth and Cheryl McCormick and their daughters Freye, 6, and Aubrey, 4, are at their cottage on Chowder Kettle Lane, formerly the James and Grambs Aronson house. Seth’s sister, Kate, and his mother, Mary Aronsen McCormick, will join them this weekend. The family will gather at Abel’s Hill Cemetery for a interment ceremony for Graydon McCormick, Seth and Kate’s father and Mary’s husband, who died on Nov. 4 in Lawrence. Any who wish to join the family July 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the cemetery are welcome.

Many local artists are showing their work at a benefit art show for the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group on July 18 and 19 at the Tashmoo Spring Building in Vineyard Haven. Over 30 artists will show works and 50 per cent of all sales will go to the shellfish group to produce oyster, scallop and quahog seed for stocking our ponds.

If you haven’t filled your calendar with the above events, please consult your Chilmark Community Center booklet for all the events going on there; check out your booklet from the Yard for all their exciting programs and remember the Chilmark Church’s flea markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Jenkinson Field on North Road, and the Tuesday evening lobster roll sale from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church.

If you are clever, you can entertain your guests and yourselves without leaving Chilmark, and that should be your goal! The traffic elsewhere defies description. And let’s try thinking about mopeds and their use on Martha’s Vineyard. Somebody must have a suggestion that will help.

Send your Chilmark news to: slaterjn@comcast.net.