With standardized test results made public last Friday, school leaders Islandwide have begun to examine the wealth of data and discuss student performance with staff and parents.

Scores from the MCAS test administered to Island students last spring show the majority of students at Island public schools are performing at or above state standards in English language arts, mathematics and science.

The Edgartown Library summer reading program this year involved more than 100 children and for the first time reached out to children at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club. The statewide theme was Dig Into Reading.
Leading this summer’s readers at the library was Jason Alpert-Wisnia, who read and reported on 58 books. Brandon Engerman read 33 books and Elizabeth Madsen read 24. Reading more than 15 books each were Whitney Johnson, Sasha Kagan, Ellie Kogan, Brant Maynard, Natasha Muromcew, Mary Muromcew, Simon Rhett and Celia Schaper.

The West Tisbury building department will seek disciplinary action against an Island plumber who installed plumbing without a permit at State Road restaurant.

Building inspectors Ernie Mendenhall and Joe Tierney notified the West Tisbury selectmen on Wednesday that they plan to file a complaint with the state against Walter Smith Plumbing. The company installed plumbing in an unpermitted basement kitchen at the restaurant, which has been fined for a zoning code violation.

Mr. Mendenhall said appealing to the state was the “only vehicle” of punitive relief.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Tisbury Waterways, Inc. will hold its annual meeting at 5 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. The meeting will include a presentation on inshore dredging projects and what to do with the collected spoils. The program is a joint effort by the Tisbury Waterways Inc. and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.

Among the welcome sounds of silence in September in Oak Bluffs, the ones I miss most are the songs played on the 1921 Wurlitzer band organ at the Flying Horses. It was called the Carousel until previous owners, the Turnell family, renamed it the Flying Horses in the 1940s. They chose this in a paean to the one in Watch Hill, R.I., where horses suspended from chains fly outwardly as it goes around, compared with ours; a platform carousel with stationery horses.

The Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday unanimously approved increased annual stipends for the fire department.

When requesting the increase, acting fire chief John Rose said the new stipends are more comparable to the pay scale in other towns.

Chilmark is happy to be the host town for the 5th annual Salt Water Challenge. Salt Water Heroes, wounded veterans from across the country, will gather at the Beach Plum Inn for a week of derby fishing from Sept. 29 through Oct. 4. This popular event is hosted by the Nixon family who owns and operates Beach Plum Inn, Menemsha Inn and the Home Port Restaurant. The veterans will begin their fishing days at approximately 7 a.m. at the Menemsha dock and return at approximately 11 a.m. They will be weighing in at the weigh station at approximately 8 p.m. each evening. We are all welcome to see them off and welcome them home and watch them weigh in. Please contact jgrace@innsatmenemsha.com for more details. Any offer of help with transportation will be welcome as well as donations to cover the costs. Tax deductible donations may be made in any amount. Please contact saltwaterchallenge2013@gmail.com. We send good luck wishes to all involved in this wonderful event happening in Chilmark!

Well, September has slipped away rapidly and we are now in the fall season. The weekend weather was delightful but Sunday was noticeably cooler, lending a fall-like atmosphere to the air. Folks are looking forward to the Living Local Harvest Festival and Antique Power Show on Oct. 4 and 5. The Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby is in full swing and the fish appear to be plentiful. The automobile traffic is definitely slower during the week as we approach the last full week of the shoulder season. Can Halloween be just 33 days away? Well, the advertising has begun in earnest.

This is the time of year when the outside is usually warmer than the inside of your house. If you are like me, the heater does not go on until November. Well, maybe a few times in between to take the chill off, but just for a minute.

As of Wednesday morning, 269 homeowners had sent in their commitment letter to Comcast. As you know, 270 are required for Comcast to proceed. Remember that if you mail your letter in to Comcast, c/o Edgartown National Bank, P.O. Box 1029, Edgartown, MA 02539, it must be postmarked no later than Oct. 1. You can also deliver it directly to Pam Dolby in the selectmen’s office at the town hall. Thanks to all who helped out by signing up.