It’s hard to write something beautiful when a shadow has been cast across our community. In time, I hope the clouds will lift making way for bright memories of the boy whose life was lost too soon.

Nonie, Dan, Amos, Jae, Zuzu and Jeffrey: we mourn with you, wrap our loving arms around you, hurt alongside you and are here for you to help remember and share the stories of Waylon Madison Sauer. He served a high purpose in life, which included helping you grow and learn and to expand and absorb your capacity to love. His achievements, character, sense of both humility and humor will live on in his memory as an extraordinary son, brother and friend to all.

Autumn slowly continues to weave its way into town with the vibrant colors of the maples and the drab colors of the oaks dropping to the ground to make way for what little light this time year has to offer.

If you’re not into scalloping or fall fishing, wander your way to Native Earth teaching Farm. Farm tours, weed walks, indigo dying and so much more offered by Rebecca Gilbert is a glorious way to enjoy a few hours centering yourself with the beauty that surrounds us. I just picked up a couple copies of Rebecca’s book, Weedy Wisdom for the Curious Forager, to give as gifts, but I’m pretty certain I’ll be keeping a copy for myself. I’ll need to wander back for it to be signed.

It’s that time of year when hunters are cleaning their shotguns, laying out their boots and blaze orange and setting their alarms to rise and shine in eager anticipation for opening day of shotgun season in Massachusetts. From Nov. 27 through Dec. 9, be sure to be aware of your surroundings, choose your paths wisely and, just as hunters are required to wear 500 square inches of blaze orange, you might want to consider it, too.

I hope all of our hunters fill their freezers with enough venison to make it through the winter.

I failed to mention that our favorite Menemsha snowbird departed from his Harbor Hill home overlooking the basin for greener pastures in the Sunshine State. Don Smith’s final hurrah in town was to hand out heaps of candy to a pleasantly-raucous flow of tiny to teen trick or treaters. What a hoot he had.

Four-month-old Leni Catherine Perschel traveled to town from her home in Chicago with parents Jordan and Arielle. Grandparents Anne and Robert Perschel were eagerly awaiting her first Vineyard visit. Like many, little Leni is mesmerized by the ocean. All look forward to spending more time there when the Chicagoans return next summer.

Although the weather was uncooperative and the Beach BeFrienders’ November clean up at Cedar Tree Neck was rescheduled to Saturday, Nov. 25 from 9 to 11 a.m., the inclement weather did not deter the Menemsha Pond shore contingent. Captain Chris Murphy took Laurisa Rich, Mary Maria and Maggie Craig out to scour the shores for trash and brought back a boatload to be properly disposed of.

If your schedule doesn’t permit you to join the BeFrienders at the scheduled times, you can befriend a beach anytime you’d like. Stop by any library and grab a special Vineyard Conservation Society sticker, affix it to the junk you’ve gathered and drop it at the transfer stations, free of charge. If you’re going to go to the effort of picking up, then take the next step and dispose of it properly. Don’t just leave it at the trailhead.

A quick shout out to all the families in town with little kids: the Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter’s Association has invited Santa for a visit on Dec. 21. Invitations will be mailed to Chilmark resident children newborn through fifth grade. If you are new to town, have added a wee one to your family or simply aren’t sure Santa has your child on his list, please reach out to me. Thanks you to Mary Boyd, Anja May, Mary Ambulos and Jennifer Christy for helping me keep that list as accurate as possible. It takes a village.