My granddaugher, Violet, and I left for Washington, D.C., a week ago for a long planned trip. We drove to Providence and hopped aboard the Amtrak.

Somehow, birds that should not be here sometimes are here. According to the books these birds should be found far away. Then one shows up. The birds, as birders like to comment on occasion, do not read the books.

We’ve got trouble and it is not in River City. Trouble, trouble, trouble right here on Martha’s Vineyard.

Trouble for the botanist, trouble for the homeowner and trouble for our plants and landscapes: trouble, trouble, trouble.

Mike McCormack has beaten off a determined challenge for his job by former state police Sgt. Neal Maciel to be re-elected as Dukes County sheriff.

After weeks of heavy campaigning by both candidates, Mr. McCormack won handily on the night on Tuesday. In total, voters in the six Island towns preferred him 4,509 to 3,251. The third candidate, Warren Gosson, garnered just 405 votes.

With results in from the three largest towns on Martha’s Vineyard, Sheriff Mike McCormack appears to have beaten off a determined challenge for his job by former state police sergeant Neal Maciel.

Mr. McCormack secured a total of 3,081 votes from electors in Edgartown, Tisbury and Oak Bluffs, 573 more than Mr. Maciel.

In other races, down-Island voters heavily favored Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick over his Republican challenger, Charlie Baker — 3,356 to 2,125.

Lyme Disease

A petition to support reform in the treatment of Lyme disease and more adequate testing protocols is at the West Tisbury Public Library. The deadline for signatures is Sunday, Oct. 31.

The petition also highlights the need to support a chronic Lyme disease training program for doctors on the Island. Lyme patients should not have to travel to receive proper treatment.

Andora Aquino

Andora Justino Buzetti Aquino, of Vineyard Haven, daughter of Mr. Marcio S. Aquino and Ms. Joelma J. Buzetti, is among the 853 students who entered Colgate University with the Class of 2014 in late August. The class, selected from an applicant pool of almost 7,900 students, is the most diverse to enroll at Colgate.

Andora is a graduate of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Four regional high school teachers have been invited to present a professional workshop at the National Council of Teachers of English annual convention in Orlando, Fla., the first time in the school’s history that an interdisciplinary team of teachers has been honored with this opportunity.

Kate Holter and Corinne Kurtz from the history department, and, from English, Bill McCarthy and Dan Sharkovitz, will present their session, titled The Inverted Periscope: How to Find the Monsters of Insight Under the Sea, on Nov. 21.

Julie Pringle

Julie Pringle of Vineyard Haven, a current freshman at Tufts University, has been awarded the designation of AP Scholar with Distinction for her high scores on the seven advanced placement exams she completed over her years at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

No Edgartown Quorum

Edgartown voters failed to reach a quorum last night for a special town meeting at the Old Whaling Church.

Chairman of the board of selectmen Margaret Serpa told voters they were short 44 people to meet the 162 minimum. The special session will be rescheduled at a later date or combined with the annual town meeting in April.