Derby fever is highly contagious. It is making its way around the Island fast with Wasque, the Menemsha Jetty, Painted House and a few other areas being hit the hardest. There is no cure, it’s just an affliction that needs to run its course as anglers participate in the 73rd annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby.

Derby fever was contracted by many on Sept. 9. It lasts a while but most should be cured by Oct. 13. Thank goodness the list of pre-derby chores was completed before the fever hit-boats engines are tuned up. New line is wound on reels and new hooks are on the tried and true lures. Of course, the registration paperwork and saltwater licenses are completed and up to date. Many of those Tacomas you see dotted along the shoreline with rod racks and coolers also have a pillow on the front seat so a few zzzs can be caught between bouts of fishing blitzes and frenzies. Derby fever is exhausting.

Stories are told and friends are made while familiar names adorn the leader boards. Check out the derby website at mvderby.com for information and up-to-date standings. Congratulations to Ryan Kurth, Joey Huang, Quinlan Slavin, Riley Gale, Tucker Simonsen and John Thurgood whose names were on the board at the time of my writing.

Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale. A week of unplugged preparations at Captain Flanders House for the marriage of Hilary Dryer and Ben Martin produced just that. Surrounded by friends, family, the farm horses and a whole lot of love, these two tied the knot. Big congratulations to you.

If you made it to the fair, you likely saw Elisha Wiesner’s work of art. He built a beauty of a guitar and earned himself not only a blue ribbon but a MVAS special award.

Betsy Cornwall has returned from paying her son a visit in Portland, Ore.

Congratulations to Jeffrey and Lauren Lynch on the birth of their baby boy, Thomas. He came into the world at Mount Auburn Hospital on Sept. 5 measuring 20 perfect inches and weighing 6.12 pounds. This little lad is lucky to have Patty Rossi as his grandmother. We are so excited for you all.

Just an aside, little Tommy was born on my daughter Bradley’s birthday. If that isn’t coincidence enough, Patty and I share a birthday as well.

It’s not just throwing a ball, hitting and then running. Chilmark Sunday Softball at Flanders Field is cheering, laughing, prodding, confidence-building and the occasional comedy of errors. Sig, Hans, Tony, Caleb, Jerry, Arlen, Sophie, Bizu, Jason, Jacob and a whole slew of regulars welcomed Paul Iantosca back to the field after a year of physical therapy. He convinced Kristen Gala to join in the fun along with Susan Sanford. Both play in the MV women’s softball league.

Paul played a fine first baseman, diving for the ball while keeping his foot firmly on the base. Sophie Balaban had a great run to first base until Mark Levin placed his head in her path. There was a little blood and quite a lump but nothing Susan Balaban couldn’t manage in her new-found role as team doctor. Paul De Mauro, despite firmly stating that his glove had been oiled and packed away until next season, just couldn’t stay away and played a stellar second base. As always, a morning of softball wouldn’t be the same without a visit from field neighbor Ed Grazda and his two pups.

Bon voyage to the fourth and fifth-grade classes who set sail aboard the Alabama and are scheduled to return to port on Saturday. With parents Meg Athearn, Tauras Biskis and Isaac Taylor on board, Jean, Zeb, Emmett, Fletcher, Malia, Leah, Aki, Arjuna, Hunter, Cian, Lathrop, Claus, Grazina, Walter, Bella, Haile, Anthony and Amaya set out for a school-at-sea adventure. The faculty chaperone/educator torch has been passed from Becky Barca-Tinus and Janice Brown to Lucy Leopold and Jen Passifume. I cannot wait to hear about their adventures.

Chilmark town news can be sent to squidrow@vineyard.net.