Chilmark mourns the death this week of well-loved and popular Trudy Taylor of Quitsa. Gertrude Taylor has been in our midst for many years and she had many friends and fans across the Island. We shall all miss her presence and remember her cheer and wisdom. Funeral plans are not complete as I write. We send condolences to her extended family and many friends.

The final holiday weekend of the warm weather season was a success as many visitors, weddings and family reunions filled the beaches, roads and homes of Chilmark. We sent everyone off, as we do every year, with assurances that next year will be even more fun!

The thunderstorms and heavy rains of Monday left many driveways bare and the sand down on North Road, which was hard hit with a lot of sand and gravel washed onto the hard surface. Brooks overflowed and gravity did its thing. Just a reminder that we are not always in charge! As a matter of fact, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has a guide available that will help us plan for future weather emergencies. As we start to think about the possibility of extreme weather situations this coming winter we might want to review their suggestions. You can visit them at mass.gov/MEMA for information.

Jackie Mendez-Diez of North Road sends us the good news of the birth of her first grandchild. Her son Stefan and his wife, Robin Shutinya, announce the arrival on Oct. 6 of Hazel Maurisa born in Logan, Utah. Stefan is a professor at the Utah State University. Jackie plans to travel to Utah in November and we look forward to Hazel’s first Vineyard visit. Cheers to all!

This is the week of the Saltwater Challenge as the wounded warriors are here for their annual fishing experience. The Nixon family of Beach Plum Inn, Menemsha Inn and the Home Port Restaurant host this popular and much anticipated event each year. Many volunteers from Chilmark and beyond turn out to make the adventure successful. As I write, the sun is shining and we hope the fish are biting!

Jennifer Christy and her daughters, El and Wren, travelled to Cornwall, Vt. to enjoy a girls’ weekend with her sister, Chris Hodges. The group picked apples in Chris’s apple orchard. Jennifer is our popular town clerk, and, I have recently learned, an accomplished artist. Watch for her work.

The Chilmark library invites us to their Wednesday free program at the library at 5 p.m. Paula Martin, a professional organizer, will tell us how to organize our homes to our advantage. After this busy summer, we can all use a few suggestions! The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library.

And, another reminder . . . mark your calendar for the Women’s Symposium meeting at 9 a.m. at the Chilmark Community Center on Nov. 7.

Many thanks to the Fenner family, Frank, Merrily and Barbara, for their generous community treat, ending their long and valued season of Galley food in Menemsha.

Now that the crowds are gone some new folks among us can be seen. Welcome to Domonique Bernard of Jamaica and Falmouth, who commutes daily to the Chilmark Post Office. She worked in Vineyard Haven Post Office for five months before transferring to Chilmark. We wish her success and hope her first four weeks in Chilmark went well.

The United Sates Coast Guard Station Menemsha is the new home to Seaman Apprentice Benjamin Renner of Wallingford, Conn. and to Seaman Apprentice Savannah Hooe of Virginia. Mark Seawell, also of Virginia, has recently been transferred to Station Menemsha as their new cook. Thanks to Allison Conroy, USCG Accountant and Procurement Officer, for the update. Good luck to all and we hope you know Chilmark welcomes all and is proud to have you serving in our midst.

Send Chilmark town news to slaterjn@comcast.net.