The Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby may be over but the Octoberfish tournament continues. Sponsored by Larry’s Tackle and courtesy of Chappy-based owners Melissa and Peter Sliwkowski, the contest runs for the whole month of October. Weigh-ins are now conducted at the shop on Upper Main street. Find the rules and guidelines on the Larry’s Tackle Shop website and on Facebook. All of the entry fees go to the winners of the shore and boat divisions. Vendors have also donated lots of great prizes. Sign up before you go fishing!

The Chappy ferryboat On Time III made the voyage to Vineyard Haven early Monday morning with captains Fisher and Page aboard. Though the tide and wind were running against them, that kept the sea swell down and only spray came on deck. By mid-afternoon the vessel was high and dry on the Packer Marine Railway with a huge sheet of shrink wrap spread out beneath to catch all of the debris from hull work.

On Tuesday, the seaweed was scraped off and swept up. The propellers were pulled off and are headed off-Island for refurbishing. The U.S. Coast Guard inspectors will be on the island shortly to give the hull a thorough inside and outside examination.

The Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District is hosting a household hazardous materials collection on Saturday Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. See its website for complete details. The next collection is more than half a year away so take this opportunity to get your icky stuff gone.

The 2024 Chappaquiddick Community Center calendar can now be pre-ordered online at the CCC website, along with lots of other goodies.

Remember to wear orange when going into the woods: hunting season has begun. Your dog should also wear orange. Archery season is underway and continues through Saturday, Nov. 25. The two-week shotgun season starts on November 27.

Then there are three weeks of primitive firearms hunting starting Dec. 11. Hunting hours begin a half-hour before sunrise and end a half-hour after sunset. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays. See the Massachusetts state hunting website for further details.

The Chappy Ferry is now on the winter schedule which means that, weather permitting, the ferry runs continuously from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and then again from 11 to 11:15 p.m. To schedule an early trip for 5 or 6 a.m., see the ferry captain in person before 5 p.m. on the day before your early trip to sign up and pay the additional fee.

Remember to turn off your vehicle’s parking lights as well as your headlights when waiting in the ferry line. It’s not good for the eyesight of the captains to land the ferry with your glaring LED lights shining in their eyes. LED parking lights are often brighter than your headlights. If you need to shut your engine off to make your parking lights go out, that’s what you need to do. You can see yourself in the mirrors provided at each waiting line to make sure. Be kind to the ferry captains.