Chilmark is still under mostly warm and sunny skies but the feeling of suspense is present as we try to enjoy the day and not think about what is in the wind for us!

Many Chilmarkers and the town of Chilmark lost a friend this week with the death on Nov. 13 of Dan Greenbaum of South Road. He was a tireless retired volunteer at town hall and served on many commissions and committees to the benefit of the town. Dan contributed much to town government and its projects as he drew from a long and distinguished career in engineering and design. He will be missed by his extended Chilmark family and his many friends. I know his ideas and plans will continue to serve the town. We send condolences to all who knew and loved Dan.

We send condolences to the family of Kevin Oliver and his family of Tea Lane on the death of his mother Eileen Judy Oliver on Nov. 5 at her home in Vineyard Haven. She was laid to rest on Nov. 9 in that town. Many of us remember her cheerful personality at the Menemsha Market in the days that Kevin and Elizabeth ran that store. We know she will be long remembered by her loving family and her many friends.

Josh Aronie has his food truck up and running and lunchtimes in Chilmark are better for it! The food truck is currently doing business at lunchtime in the Home Port parking lot.

We send best wishes to Chuck Hodgkinson of town hall who will take a few days off this month as he has knee surgery in Boston on Nov. 19 and 21. He hopes to be back at his desk in early December. Cheers to you, Chuck.

Cheers to Peter Keene and Emily Drazen on the birth last week of their son, Mischa Drazen Keene. He has a big brother, Liam.

The engagement of Samantha Jason to Dave Lehman was announced this week. We send cheers to the happy couple.

The scallop season opened in Chilmark last week. So far John Larson and Donald Poole are the commercial fishermen going scalloping regularly.

Denny Jason of the Little Lady is happy to report that the paperwork is done and he will soon begin building his home at Nab’s Corner. Good luck from us all!

The Thanksgiving weekend will bring a wave of college students home for the first vacation with their Chilmark families. Mariah and Jessica Campbell, newly turned 20 each, will be home from the University of Massachusetts; Samantha Bunker will be here from Clark University, where she is a sophomore; Thorpe Karabees will be here from the University of Vermont; Peter Ruimerman will be home from Manhattan College and his brother Andrew will be here from Roanoke College. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Lew French was inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame at a gala event at the State Room in Boston on Nov. 12. I hope to have more details for you next week. Congratulations to Lew!

The West Tisbury School boys’ basketball team plays their first game this season against Tisbury. The West Tisbury team has many Chilmarkers playing so I thought they deserved a mention: Adam Miller, Silas Abrams, Tegan Fenner, Tristan Scott are all junior varsity and Brooks Carroll, Solon Oliver and Josh Dix are varsity players. It should be an exciting season. Go team!

Julie Flanders reports that her horse, Bertie, who suffered a severe leg injury in June, is still at Tufts Veterinary Hospital in Grafton and is looking good after a recent surgery. Everyone is hoping for Bertie’s return to Chilmark soon.

The health and well-being of animals has been up front with me this last six weeks and I have learned a lot about ticks and dogs and the dedicated people who care about and for the critters who get tick bites. Happily, Lucy will live but some are not so lucky. Do get those blood tests periodically.

Many thanks to Katie Carroll who has contributed much to the news this week. She is asking for the names of any new children to Chilmark who may not yet be known to Santa. The annual Firefighter’s Christmas party and Santa visit will take place as always at the Chilmark Community Center and the head elf wants to be sure she has gifts for all children, newborn through fifth grade. Please call her at 508-645-2641.

And, finally, go Pats .  .  . how many more games like Sunday’s can an old lady stand?

Send Chilmark news to slaterjn@comcast.net.