Chilmark mourns the death of another of its senior citizens. Marguerite Cottle died at her Menemsha home on Oct. 7. Her long life allowed her to see many transformations of Chilmark. She was born and grew up on the Bassett sheep farm on South Road and married the late Eric Cottle, who was a lobsterman and swordfisherman in the busy days of fishing in Menemsha where they lived. Their children Martha and Wesley are part of the Chilmark community. We are grateful that Marguerite shared so much of our history with us and we send condolences to her family and friends.

Sadly, we also mourn the passing of Donald F. Mitchell, or Donnie, as he was known to most of us. He was the last of the final inhabitants of the historic Hancock Mayhew Mitchell house in Quansoo and he shared many memories and a rich oral history of that house and surroundings. Those who are involved in the restoration of the house found his information valuable. Donnie was a lively person with many friends. His stories will live on and we send condolences to his wife, Hilda Correira Mitchell of Oak Bluffs, and his many friends. He was laid to rest in Oak Bluffs on Sept. 30.

Congratulations to Bob and Sarah Nixon of Washington, D.C., and Chilmark. The Martha’s Vineyard Seacoast Defense Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded the couple a Community Service Award from the National Society for their work in bringing wounded veterans to Menemsha for five days of fishing in the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. The Saltwater Fishing Challenge just completed its fifth competition. The veterans were guests of the Nixons at their Beach Plum Inn in Menemsha and were entertained by many in the community.

Congratulations to Jim and Roberta Morgan who celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary recently. We send them good wishes for many more celebrations! Roberta will close her Menemsha shop, Harbor Crafts, this weekend and is looking forward to next season, and Jim continues to work on his prized boat models. Cheers from us all!

The charitable work of two young Chilmarkers has inspired the Chilmark School fourth and fifth grade students to begin a project for the coming year. Hannah Kahl and Lila Fischer recently spent time living in Atiak, Uganda, and have been sharing their information and experiences with the students in the Chilmark School. The students are planning a project aimed at helping the Blessed Watoto Community School in Atiak. They will plan and host an Atiak Fair at the Community Center on Oct. 25. Please call the school for more information.

This Saturday is the first of the Winter Farmers’ Markets at the West Tisbury Agricultural Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome. There will be hot lunches and music by a guest band. So far, 22 vendors are expected to set up.

Please note the starting time of the selectmen’s meetings has moved to 7 p.m. for the coming months. The next meeting is at town hall on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

The Allen Farm hosted a festive wedding for Nathaniel Allen Posin and Kaila Binney on Saturday last. Nathaniel is the son of Mitchell Posin and Clarissa Allen-Posin. Kaila is the daughter of Laury Binney and Marcy Klapper of West Tisbury. The tents in the pasture were filled with many friends and family members enjoying the farm-produced foods following the ceremony overlooking the Chilmark Pond and Atlantic Ocean, after the Irish members of the family had spread some of the soil of Ireland on the grasses of Chilmark. Clarissa’s mother, the late Catherine Beirne Allen and wife of the late Roger Allen, was born in Roscommon, Ireland, and was remembered by her many nieces and nephews who came over to attend the wedding. Clarissa’s cousins Peg Donlon, Agnes Dunne and husband Ray, Johnny Beirne, Jane Beirne, who is the wife of Eamon, and their daughter, Darin Beirne all came to the wedding.

Mitchell’s mother, Minnie Pusin of Black Mountain, N.C., and his brother, Steven Pusin of San Francisco, joined his sister, Sherry Caron and her son Jesse Caron, who also were here from North Carolina, and her son James and his wife, Brittany, who came from Tampa. Mitchell’s great aunt Minnie Ann Horowitz and her husband Joe, came from Kingston, N.Y., accompanied by their grandson Nate.

Kaila’s family was also well represented. Johnny Hoy provided music for dancing and the food was prepared and supervised by Chilmark’s own Chris Fischer, who started the fires for the open air barbecues to cook the Allen Farm meats at midnight so they would be done for the early evening meal. Keith McNally of Windy Gates and London, baked and sent the breads from his New York restaurant. There was a very special large loaf of dark bread decorated with wheat themes and the initials of the bride and groom. The celebration required the generous time and talent of many folks who are thanked profusely by the Allen Farm family. The bride and groom are on a honeymoon in Portugal as I write, and will reside at the Allen Farm.