Polly Hill Arboretum offers a way to get outdoors and explore the off season on the grounds.

Rehearsals are beginning for the annual Songs of Peace, Hope and Light winter concert.

Veterans, merchant mariners and others who have served in the U.S. forces are invited to the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center’s Shabbat service on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

West Tisbury Library hosts its semi-annual Community Poetry Reading with emcee West Tisbury poet laureate Justen Ahren on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Bunch of Grapes bookstore in Vineyard Haven.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Howes House Tuesday discussion group ponders problems shared between the U.S. and India.

In an off-season treat for Islanders, the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society offers its annual Thanksgiving concert on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Edgartown’s Old Whaling Church.

The regional high school golf team took 10th place of 12 in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association state tournament Monday. The match was played at the Wyantenuck Country Club in Great Barrington. Senior cocaptain Matt Marchand had the lowest score for the Vineyard, shooting a 79 to finish 20th overall. Senior cocaptain Kat deBettencourt shot an 81 to finish 28th.

The Chicken Alley Thrift Shop of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is throwing a Halloween party on Oct. 31 beginning at 9 p.m. at Dreamland in Oak Bluffs. Tickets are $15 at the door, $10 in advance and proceeds benefit community services.

Music will be provided by DJ Pretty Ninja, Teo-reidy and Antler Boy and there will be prizes for costumes.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission plowed through a packed agenda for over three hours last Thursday night, approving proposals to store landscaping containers in West Tisbury and to dredge part of Tisbury harbor to make way for the return of a whaling ship. A long public hearing focused on outdoor lighting at the Vineyard Assembly of God Church on State Road, with neighbors concerned about the church’s proposal for increased lighting in the parking lot, and a shorter public hearing was held about a proposed propane facility on Evelyn Way.

On Sunday 73 people took part in the 23rd annual Martha’s Vineyard CROP Walk.