I have always been so pleased that the community here has stepped up to the plate on working to end domestic violence. The 12th annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk will be virtual and take place from Oct. 15 through Oct. 30. If you would like to participate, $5 is the suggested donation to register. Anyone sending in $20 will get the annual T-shirt. Contact Phil at prollins@mvcommunity services.com. Thank you for helping to end domestic violence.

Our talented artists keep producing fine work. The Louisa Gould Gallery on Main street has a new show, the Martha’s Vineyard Maritime Show: Ship to Shore and Journeys in Abstraction. Among her artists are Jack Yuen, Peter Batchelder, Deborah T. Cotter, Rick Fleury and John Halladay, along with new artist David Witbeck. The hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

My dear friend, Robin Canha, closed her Vineyard Arts Gallery on Main street after exhibiting beautiful work for two years. Yet another victim of the pandemic. Robin will still take your orders and serve your needs, working online until we get a better grip on this health crisis. You may ask to be sent her newsletter which will publish about four times annually. Contact Robin at vineyardartsgallery.com. I shall miss seeing her and listening to her fascinating Island stories.

The Ghost in the Machine. Talk about Island stories! Prolific author Thomas Dresser was about to give his talk on his new book, Ghosts of Martha’s Vineyard, at the Edgartown Library last week when the winds and storm caused a power outage. His talk was rescheduled by Zoom for Oct. 14. I hope all went well.

Our Island treasure, artist and cartoonist Paul Karasik, sent an invitation to view his show at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center in the Feldman Family Artspace. This show is in collaboration with Featherstone. The show runs Oct. 13 through Nov. 15. The opening party is Saturday, Oct. 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. Paul’s work will feature his original cartoons and prints for the New Yorker, the Nation, the Vineyard Gazette, and the Martha’s Vineyard Magazine. I do so enjoy his sense of humor.

Lovely Patty Knowles has been on and off-Island on an extended trip from her new home in California. Catch her while you can. She was a welcome member of this community for years.

My dear friends Robert and Ruth Radcliffe are on the road to visit Ruth’s darling Mom, BB, in Arkansas. They will observe BB’s 100th birthday together. Ruth reports Mom is as bright and sassy as ever.

My Dad and many of you would never forgive me if I failed to note the 245th birthday of the United States Navy on Oct. 13. Thank you to all who served.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along Marty Nadler and Paul Simon on Oct. 13. And on Oct. 17 Bonnie Travers and Patsy Weaver Murphy take the cake. Many happy returns.