“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” This quote popped up somewhere and, although I can’t recall exactly where, it has stuck with me and somehow seems so relevant as fall sets in. Summers are busy. Fall tends to be a time for folks to slow down and relax yet there is still so much to enjoy and appreciate close to home. Reacquaint yourself with friends and neighbors. Take a morning walk with a dear friend: Julie Flanders, I am coming for you. Meet someone you love to chat with for tea or coffee. Jump at the opportunities that arise.

Rebecca Gilbert and Randy BenDavid remind us all that it’s time to socialize and what better place to do it than Native Earth Teaching Farm’s Popcorn Festival. Saturday October 7 from 10:00-3:00 the farm will be open for a free day of fun filled with fiber arts, natural dyes, animal visits-of course the goats will be featured, fall fun and games and, of course, tons of popcorn. 94 North Road is the spot and 508-645-3304 is the number to call if you need more info.

Don’t forget, Tuesday nights are pizza night at the Chilmark Church. Come one, come all and have a ball. The gathering time is 6 p.m. There typically is a salad brought by this person and some cookies brought by that person. Pizza is a definite and the rest just sort of happens. Call Julie Flanders at 508-645-3723 and give her the heads up if you are a new face that plans to attend.

Candy Shweder will open the doors of her studio at 4 Fulling Mill Hill on Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. She is cleaning house with a great sale of one of a kind pieces, discontinued items and colors so she can make some room for great new projects to come.

Jon and Marie (Fischer) Scott celebrated their 50th anniversary a while back. Jon paid me a visit a few days ago to chat and, among other things, he expressed the true joy he felt sitting at dinner with Marie at the Outermost Inn. He shared that dinner was a treat bestowed upon them by their children and he marveled at not only how delightful dinner was but how thoughtful their children were for sending them on such a romantic evening of adventure.

Although they didn’t celebrate the big five-oh, sweet and happy anniversary wishes to the lovely Meg and Dan Athearn, too.

Brothers Scott and Peter Darling are in town spending some quality time aboard Slack Tide fishing the derby. I have reports that they were not only fishing but they managed some catching, too.

Brian Curry, captain of Washashore and Menemsha regular, had his brother Mike’s company this past week. The two not only palled around in search of the big one but also managed to squeeze in some quality time keeping their eyes glued to a great Patriots game.

Robin Smith and Jimmy Hickey had the pleasure of two-year-old grandson Caleb Kahl’s company this past weekend. The trio enjoyed ice cream on Squid Row while watching boats move around the harbor. Caleb is the smiley toddling son of Andrew Kahl and Natalie Grewal.

A celebration of the life of Barbara Rivers will be held on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury. The service starts at 11 a.m. with a luncheon and shared memories to follow.

Friends and family from -Island and off gathered on the last day of September to lay Captain James Douglas Morgan to rest surrounded by old friends atop Abel’s Hill. Mark Lovewell’s voice summed it up well with a beautiful rendition of Fiddler’s Green, a sea shanty which has been sung by some of the best including Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem:

“Wrap me up in me oilskin and jumper

No more on the docks I’ll be seen

Just tell me old shipmates, I’m taking a trip mates

And I’ll see you someday on Fiddlers Green”

My conversations with Jim almost always ended with me saying it was a pleasure to see him and he would reply by advising me to get a second opinion on that. He was a treasure that I will visit at his final resting spot from time to time and reflect for a moment each time that I do.

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