Bella the puppeteer has exchanged the stage for some crayons. Her new activity coloring book for children is called Arakataka and it is a take off on her puppet show.

Lanny McDowell took a break from painting in 2007 to focus on his bird photography, which appears in a variety of publications and videos. One can often find his work accompanying the bird column or other articles in the Gazette. His photographs also stand alone and are in private collections around the country.

Sam Decker is the sommelier and beverage director at Atria in Edgartown, and one of three wine personalities to face off Oct. 17 at the Sommelier Throw Down!

Felix Neck’s Fern and Feather day camp has shown young people the incredible beauty and wildlife on the Island since 1964 and it celebrates 50 years of family-friendly fun with a big party on Sunday, Oct. 12.

Hunters and gatherers from around the Island meet and compete at the fifth annual Local Wild Food Challenge on Monday, Oct. 13, beginning at 3 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club.

Kenneth Levy-Church and Jeanne Levy-Church purchased 29 Mill House Way in Vineyard Haven from Kate W. Sedgwick, TRS, and Maltese Falcon Trust for $4,000,000 on Sept. 30.

It’s a veritable chocolate weekend from Oct. 10 to 12 at Featherstone Center for the Arts. The annual Art of Chocolate Festival begins with a sneak preview party under the tent on Friday, Oct. 10.

The Oak Bluffs library hosts a celebration of history, fossils and earth science from 4 to 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Bring the kids and your green thumb to Vineyard Gardens’ harvest festival where you’ll find nature crafts, plant displays, garden tours, a raffle and refreshments from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.

We are responding to the commentary in last week’s Gazette by Polly Simpkins on her father’s 86th birthday. Thank you Polly for your heartfelt and caring article about your dad and those who struggle with memory loss.