Ferry lines are shorter, the kids are back in school and issues that were set aside for the more urgent business of summer on Martha’s Vineyard are returning to the fore. As Islanders begin to make their lists of winter projects, here is a reminder of some items that dominated the news before the crush of visitors arrived, and some things to watch for as the leaves begin to curl.

Mopeds. Whether by more vigilance or simple good fortune, there were few serious moped accidents this summer and no fatalities. Nonetheless, the risks of renting mopeds to drivers unfamiliar with Island roads remain enormous, and officials in Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven should heed last spring’s overwhelming call for their outlaw. This could be accomplished by a special act of the legislature, but the first step would be for the selectmen in each town where mopeds are rented to call a town meeting where voters could request such an act. The sooner this is done, the sooner a ban could take effect.

Playing fields. Another fall athletic season has begun with no resolution on how to upgrade the regional high school’s substandard playing fields. When a proposal to replace them with artificial turf sparked an outcry, a group came forward with a counter proposal to fund the upgrade and maintenance of grass fields. But negotiations between the high school and the Field Fund on how to get this done sputtered and stalled this summer, and the funders were on the verge of pulling out. With $6 million on the line, it is in the interests of the school and its student athletes to push through the legal complexities to get to a satisfactory agreement.

Aquinnah casino. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court decides to step in — and that call could be made any day now — the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) now has the legal right to open a Class 2 electronic gaming hall on tribal lands up-Island. One location that has been considered is the tribe’s newly completed community center, which served this summer as a cultural enrichment camp for children. The tribe has been mum in recent months on its plans, saying only that all options are on the table. What is legal and what is best are sometimes two different things, and we remain hopeful that the tribe will consider the impact on the Island before opening the door to gambling.

The Yellow House. Edgartown’s eyesore, the so-called Yellow House at the corner of Main and South Summer streets, is now the town’s responsibility since being taken by eminent domain this spring. Now a committee of the town is soliciting development plans for the rundown building. Requests for proposals are out, and the town is holding a series of public hearings to find out what the community wants to see in the center of town.

Island Theatre. Oak Bluffs’ eyesore, the dilapidated Island Theatre on the corner of Circuit avenue, was shored up and painted this summer under court order, but the repairs were stopgap at best. Owned by a Hall family trust, the old building remains vacant and uninhabitable. Last year, voters at the town meeting refused to fund emergency repairs absent a comprehensive proposal for renovation. The selectmen now have another opportunity to find a long-term resolution to an issue that has bedeviled the town for years.

Culling the Herd. In a community survey last year, the Gazette found widespread support for reducing the deer herd as a way to address a growing tick problem on the Island, but obstacles remain. This fall Island Grown Initiative will provide on-Island facilities to process deer meat, tick expert Dick Johnson is working to get more private landowners to allow hunting and the state has indicated it would be willing to extend the bow-hunting season. Incremental steps are better than none, but more focused efforts will be needed to stop the spread of disease-carrying ticks.

Last but not least, the future of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital remains a front and center issue following a summer-long series of public relations disasters that began with the ham-handed firing of Joe Woodin in June.

If that sounds like a winter’s worth of meetings, it probably is. But on the Vineyard more than anywhere, we’re all in this together.