The Chappy Community Center is hosting a Knit, Craft and Chat get-together. Starting Sunday, Sept. 25, from 3 to 4:30 pm, join your friends and neighbors for knitting, crafting, and chatting. Get a head start on holiday gifts, finish up a project or start a new one. Bring whatever you’re working on or want to work on. Light refreshments will be served. If you can’t get to the first gathering, don’t worry: it’s on the center’s calendar for every Sunday until Christmas. Contact chappyccenter@gmail.com with questions or if you need additional information. 

When the Derby ends, one of the ferries gets hauled out of the water for Coast Guard hull inspection. This year, it’s the shorter of the two ferry boats that will be out of service. The On Time III will have to carry all of the traffic alone. But since it’s long enough to fit three regular length vehicles every trip, it keeps up with the flow of traffic better than the On Time II when it is the sole ferry in service. Therefore, no reduction in the use of the cut line is contemplated.

Chappaquiddickers are weighing in daily winners in the Derby. Just in the first week, Andy Dimattia, Oliver Filley, Kevin Peters, Steph Pond, Rick Schifter and both Peter and Melissa Sliwkowski got their names on the board. Looking over the results on the Derby website, it’s interesting to see that many old Island families are represented.

The recent Chappy Ferry steering committee meeting was attended by 90 citizens. I doubt that anyone found it boring. We’ll get the word out when the next meeting is scheduled.

The Chappaquiddick Island Association has some reminders to share about emergencies and being prepared.

You never know when the next big hurricane or northeaster will hit. The Chappaquiddick Community Emergency Response Team is hard at work developing emergency response plans to keep us all safe on our unique island. And September is FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.

Don’t wait. Start now. Here’s what Chappy households should do to be prepared: sign up for our local urgent notification services. Text the word Edgartown to 8775508627. You can also receive useful alerts from Dukes County Red Alert at dukescounty.org and the Steamship Authority Travel Alerts at steamshipauthority.com.

Find out how to stock up on emergency supplies for you and your pets by checking ready.gov.

To secure your home and property before a hurricane or storm, consult the Massachusetts Homeowners’ Handbook to Prepare for Coastal Hazards at seagrant.whoi.edu. Page 34 is helpful.

As always, you should call 911 for emergency assistance from the fire and police departments or if you need an ambulance. The dispatchers will contact the Chappy Ferry.

Finally: make sure that your house number is visible on your mailbox and house. And don’t forget to get to know your neighbors!