Halloween was its usual success on Martha’s Vineyard. The decorations, closed-off streets, Island police departments, parties, our after- school parade on Main street in costume with Chilmark the Ox leading the route...Same time, next year.

In other great news the Vineyarders won the Island Cup against the Nantucket Whalers here on our home turf on Saturday. And Mary Afton’s junior varsity soccer game also won!

Then there was the homecoming dance. Very busy here last weekend.

The Raider has been freed of 45 years of captivity in a shed at Five Corners. This beautiful sailboat owned by Captain Bob Douglas was lovingly worked on for years by Ted Box and members of the Island community. It has a new home. Many Islanders helped out with getting it moved. Fair winds.

Barbara Magnuson Phillips is calling on all cooks, crafters and artists to contact her for a spot at Handmade from the Heart, our annual fundraiser for Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard. The annual lunch and sale will take place at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We are looking for homemade jams, jellies, pickles, art, candles, soap, jewelry and ornaments; you know what we need. I don’t think any family on the Island has been untouched by Hospice. Call the office and ask for Laurie Perry call Deb Rogers at 508-627-4174, or call Barbara at 508-627-5129. Thank you.

Jeremy Berlin and Eric Johnson invite you to a live jazz recording session at 631 Edgartown-West Tisbury Road on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. The session is free but there is a suggested donation at door. Donations will be divided between the musicians and the Island Food Pantry. I’ll see you there.

James and Carol Osborn announce the birth of their seventh grandchild, Oliver Evan Osby, on Oct. 19. He was born to son Michael and daughter in law Valerie. Welcome to the world, Oliver!

The birthday bandwagon pulled along a plethora of people on Oct. 31. First, my godmother Francis Graziani. I adored her. She died five years ago. But still with us on Halloween are Samuel Armstrong, Douglas Walker, Kathy Laskowski and Sarah Young. And on Nov. 1, Judith Baumrin and Heather Van Murphy took the cake. Many happy returns.