Chilmark is basking in what I suppose we call Indian Summer. The weather is warm and winds are minor but it all seems surreal when we know how close we are to the real weather of fall and winter. The foliage was at its peak of color last weekend and has since lost some due to the falling leaves. However, a ride around town still offers some pretty vistas.

Sorry we missed each other last week but I am happy to report that Lucy is recovering from her tick invasion and the new computer is lovely to behold. I hope I can catch you up on what is happening or not happening in town this week. Most businesses are closed, with the Chandlery and the Copper Works open daily on Basin Road as is the Cottle shop with books, glass and much more offered for holiday shopping. We await the arrival of The Food Truck for our luncheon experience! The Allen Farm shop on South Road is also open daily.

The front of the town hall is being restored to its original white paint and shingle look. The historic restoration is funded in part by the Chilmark Community Preservation Committee’s funds for historic preservation. The town hall was built at that site between 1898 and 1902. The first town hall was actually on Middle Road, west of the intersection with Tabor House Road. The building does not remain but there is an opening in the stone wall along the road where the building once stood. Also there is a wonderful old picture of the original town hall hanging in the current town hall. That town hall was built in 1844. Before that date, town meetings were conducted in the Congregational Meeting House that stood on high land between Middle Road and South Road. Many thanks to Harriette Poole Otteson who has diligently researched Chilmark history for many years and has generously loaned me her notes.

Now seems the right time to remind you that the special town meeting will be on Nov. 9, Monday, at the Chilmark Community Center at 7:30 p.m. Come early and vote often It is a privilege and a duty and very satisfying to know you have had a say in the running of town government.

The Martha’s Vineyard Healthy Aging Survey was in the mail this week. We are encouraged to fill it out and return it to the Healthy Aging Task Force for Martha’s Vineyard.

The women’s symposium will meet from 9 a.m. to noon at community center on Nov. 7. The subject to be discussed by several speakers will be Never Say Never. This is a popular event so best to get there early for convenient parking. Donations are welcomed to cover costs and refreshments are offered.

The annual Halloween party hosted by the Volunteer Firefighters Association was a huge success, with many costume winners and plenty of sweet treats for all. The judges this year were Linda Thompson, Bradley Carroll and Jonah Maidoff. Hats off to the many volunteers that put together this most popular annual event.

Please call or email me any interesting events in your lives or those of others, as we all enjoy keeping track of each other.

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.