Chilmark grieves this week for the loss of our beloved children’s Librarian, Kristin Maloney. She died on Thursday, Oct. 20, at her home with her family and with the love and devotion of all her friends and fans. She left us too soon due to an unrelenting illness and she is sorely missed. We are happy that generations of children were able to learn and enjoy her teachings, her music and her singing talents. There will be a graveside service on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Abel’s Hill Cemetery followed by a reception at the Chilmark Community Center. We send condolences to her husband, John, our Chilmark poet, and her sons Owen and Kieran and their families, and to all who knew and loved her in Chilmark and beyond.

Chilmark voters are taking to the early voting program with ease. Our town clerk reports that voting has been steady and seems to please the voters. Early voting will continue at the town hall Monday through Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day.

The West Tisbury middle school cross country track team ran against Falmouth last week and some of the Chilmark students were successful. Jack Lionette came in first, Elle Christy was third and her sister, Wren Christy was fourth, and Noah Glascow was eight. We are proud of your students. Cheers to all.

Josh Aronie will open the popular winter food truck on Nov. 1 in the Home Port parking lot at midday.

The Chilmark Women’s Symposium will meet on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Chilmark Community Center. Speakers, small discussion groups and refreshments are offered. Admission is free and donations are requested to cover expenses.

Congratulations to former Chilmark resident, Paula Lyons who was inducted into the New England Broadcasters Hall of Fame earlier this month. Paula and Arnie now reside in Vineyard Haven.

Grey’s Raid of 1778 has been a subject of conversation up-Island recently. I went looking for some history and found Arthur Railtons’s summary of what he found in Banks’ history. It was published in the Dukes County Intelligencer of the winter of 2006-2007. We learn that in the summer of 1778, Sir William Clinton, supreme commander of the British forces, ordered Major General Charles Grey to conduct a raid on New Bedford and Martha’s Vineyard. Clinton wrote: “I hope it will serve to convince those poor deluded people that sort of war, carried to a greater extent and with more devastation, will sooner or later reduce them.”

Grey moored in Homes Hole on Sept. 10 and met with the local militiamen aboard his ship. He then spent the 11th and 12th loading 6,000 sheep and 130 oxen to be sent to Rhode Island. The numbers of livestock taken were agreed to by a representative group of Islanders, however it is clear they had little choice. On the 13th and 14th, the general was busy embarking cattle and sheep on board his own ships and also ordering the destroying of a salt works and the burning and taking of vessels and boats that could be found and then “receiving” the arms of the local militia.

He and his ships sailed away on Sept. 15. Colonel Beriah Norton of Edgartown is the true hero of the event as he pursued the British for many years to make good on their promise at the time to repay the Vineyarders for their livestock. It wasn’t until 1787 that he won some payments but he was never able to win full payment. There is no mention anywhere of General Grey having any headquarters on the Island during his four-day raid except aboard his fleet in Holmes Hole.

There will be a benefit for Standing Rock, entitled Water is Life, at the Chilmark Community Center on Nov. 12. It will be a concert and potluck supper beginning at 6 p.m. The following performers are on the program: Kate Taylor, Jemima James, the Black Brook Singers, Willy Mason, Alex Karalekas, Phil DaRosa, the Earth Tribe Singers and Valerie Sonnenthal. A donation of $20 is suggested.

On Oct. 26 there was a six-hour drill dealing with an imagined oil spill in the Menemsha channel. The fire departments, harbormasters and emergency crews of the three up-Island towns participated with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in the exercise.

Carolyn Eddy sends word that the Interfaith Community will present meditations of peace with poetry, dance, song and silence at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Chapel on Nov. 5, from 4 to 5 p.m. For more information, call Carolyn at 508-696-1839.

Peter and Sally Cook of South Road travelled to Saratoga Springs last weekend with their daughter Caitlin and granddaughter Maeve. They visited with their daughter, Liz Cook and her daughter, Alexandra Dennis. Alexandra is a junior at Skidmore College and was performing in a drama at Skidmore. The Cooks enjoyed the visit of their two granddaughters who ranged in age from Maeve, 8, to Alexandra, 20, and the reunion of their two daughters. The beauty of the fall foliage in the Berkshires added to the enjoyment of the weekend.

There will be a celebrity waiters spaghetti dinner to benefit the Haitian quilting co-op, PeaceQuilts, at the Federated Church on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. The need is great in that country at this time and it is hoped that the mission event will be well attended by folks across the Island. Please call 508-627-4421 for details about the dinner and the costs. The Federated Church Parish House is at 45 Summer street in Edgartown.

And, finally, Happy Halloween to all! Trick or treat.