Another year is in the books for the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby. Let’s give a resounding round of applause for all of the committee members, volunteers, participants (winners or not), and enthusiasts for a month of spending time outdoors with friends. A month of soaking up Mother Nature’s rain, wind, sunshine, gray skies or blue, flat calm days, by land or sea, fish or not, brings out camaraderie and, for the most part, a healthy level of competition among friends both young and old. The close of the Derby is bittersweet but always prompts me to think about how I can do more both as a participant and a volunteer next year. Here’s to looking forward to the 73rd MV Derby.

Magic Carpet made its way from Edgartown to Menemsha before making its annual pilgrimage to warm southern waters. Capt. Todd Bassett was at the helm with daughter Meadow along as mate. A strange coincidence worthy of a share is: Captain Pete, one of the dredge company employees, is fascinated by sailboats. When Magic Carpet sailed into Menemsha and grabbed a mooring ball, she caught Captain Pete’s eye. He recalls tagging along with his dad as they sailed Magic Carpet north from, whoops, I don’t recall, to Charleston. Although he was a child at the time, he clearly remembered the yawl’s clean crisp lines from his childhood.

Aleta Bezanson and Barbara Lagrotteria were in Menemsha for a bit of a working vacation. Aleta, daughter of Amelia and Jeff, and Barb make a few trips a year to tend to the family’s Chilmark homes and mix in a little fun too. They can often be spotted with beautiful smiles on their faces strolling between Flag Hill and Menemsha beach.

Fall break at the College of William & Mary brought my girl, Bradley, home to me for five days. She fished but didn’t catch. She baked not one but two scrumptious apple pies with Joe Chapman’s organically grown backyard apples. She cheered her brother, Brooks, on at the derby awards ceremony. She caught up with some friends and family and managed to sneak in a beach walk and a few sunset photos.

Jennifer Grace, formerly one of the amazing staff members at the Beach Plum Inn, was back in town last week to assist with this years well-organized American Heroes Saltwater Challenge. Jennifer stuck around for a few days after the event to vacation and reconnect with old friends.

Owen Singer has departed on an adventure of a lifetime. He clocked out at his job the Menemsha Fish House and jumped aboard the Miss Wilder, a 60-foot Hatteras sport fishing vessel owned by Scott Clay bound from its homeport of Osterville to the Sunshine State of Florida where it will spend most of the winter. Chris Jones is a regular aboard Miss Wilder and is also traveling south.

I’d like to extend my condolences to the Keith family. Winkie’s life ended too early at the age of 76. Think of her each time you drive Middle Road overlooking her home.

Sadly, our community lost another vital member. Bill Edison died shortly after he returned to his Elk, Calif. home after a lovely summer at his Menemsha home. The Commissioner of Chilmark baseball was 89 and quite a character right up to the end. Flanders Field softball will not be the same without him.

Seth Wakeman made his way to town from his Connecticut home to, among other things, play multiple games of cribbage with longtime friend Everett Poole.

Have you driven the lower end of Middle Road recently? Elise (Hillman) and Greg Green were in town tidying up their fields before winter sets in. Greg spent numerous hours on the tractor mowing and, I must say, it looks fantastic.

The Chilmark Preschool welcomes Laurisa Rich back into the mix as a temporary educator. Laurisa is a familiar face in the classroom who’s calm demeanor always puts little ones at ease.

I’d like to shout out a big yahoo to my sweet little neighbor Nell Thompson who is the newest member of the Chilmark Preschool family. She reached the two years nine months milestone which opened a new chapter in her life called school. Forever friends are made at the Chilmark Preschool. The very first students at CPS are now high school freshman and sophomores including Adam Knight, Bella Thorpe and Brooks Carroll to name just a few.

I recently received an email from Sarah Miller of the editorial team of Chilmark UK’s, The Village Voice. Apparently, given the historical link between our towns, she and the folks at their community newspaper are interested in making a connection with us. I’ve briefly emailed her back and look forward to sharing further news of our correspondence. It’s like the good old days when having a pen pal was an exciting thing. Mine lived in France. How about yours?

Send Chilmark news to squidrow@vineyard.net.