Chilmark enjoyed the wonderful light of the full moon for several nights this week past. The light, among other things, made hunting for a meal easier for the night feeders as I learned when I viewed the mums at my cellar door in daylight. Some fearless critter had neatly eaten only the fully bloomed flowers — all of them. I turned the pots around to display the back of the plants and the next night they, too, were eaten. There are still lots of buds so I expect the diner to return as they bloom. I assume it is a deer?

The unusually high tides that accompany the full moon flushed out the swamps and provided some good fishing for the big white herons that frequent Menemsha these days. I suppose they will move on now that the days are cooling down.

Speaking of fishing, cheers to all the winners of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. It is always an event to enjoy and cheer on all the entrants.

Chilmark drivers are enjoying the newly resurfaced Tabor House Road and D.H.’s Hill. The work is complete and the improvements noticeable.

The upcoming selectmen’s meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 29 will focus on the warrant to be presented at the special town meeting on Nov. 18. The public is always welcome at these meetings.

Jan Buhrman’s monthly online publication, Kitchen Porch, is out and very readable. She also tells us about the second annual Swine and Dine night to be at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown on Nov. 9. The whole day is devoted to pigs from meeting the farmers who grow them to how to cook and eat all parts of them. Tickets to the events are on sale at kitchenporch.com as well as by phone at 508-645-5000.

This is the time of year that I break with my own tradition and send birthday wishes to two of my classmates who celebrate this month. Cheers to Everett Poole and to Elmore Bud Mayhew. Rock on, guys.

Surely there must be some Chilmarkers who can remember some of the highlights of World War II as experienced while living in Chilmark. Tom Dresser, Herb Foster and Jay Schofield are collecting stories, pictures and recollections from all who are willing to share them. They are particularly interested in the Army installation at Peaked Hill, the Coast Guard station and the beach patrols, the USO, and whatever else may be in our memories. They are preparing a book about this part of our Island history. If you would like to share any of the above with them please contact them as listed: tomdresser@gmail.com or 508-693-1050; herblf@comcast.net or 508-627-7456 and jayschofield@me.com or 508-693-2957.

This Saturday, Oct. 26, is the 32nd Women’s Symposium at the Chilmark Community Center. There will be talks, discussions and refreshments and the subject is Finding a Way. They meet from 9 a.m. to noon. Donations are appreciated to cover costs.

Seth and Joanne Wakeman of Stonington are enjoying a fall vacation on South Road.

Nancy Aronie, Chilmark’s dynamic writing coach, has taken her show on the road this winter and will next be teaching at the Rowe Conference Center on Nov. 8 through 10 in central Massachusetts. She will move on to Lenox, Costa Rica and Rhinebeck before the winter is over. Her subject is Jump Start Your Memoir: the Next Step. She can be found at rowecenter.org.

Back in 1807 Thomas Jefferson established the Office of Coast Survey, now part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This organization has announced that they will no longer print the traditional lithographic paper nautical charts that most mariners have used since 1807. Modern technology now allows those who need them to print them free from the NOAA websites. The benefit is that these print-outs will be the most up to date possible and be safer for mariners to use. The change will take place on April 18, 2014.

The Save the Gay Head Lighthouse Committee is hard at work fundraising for the necessary impending move of the landmark lighthouse. Their email address is aqbos@comcast.net if you can help.