The outlook for the fisheries is improving, a leading federal administrator told a congressional panel in Boston early this week, but lawmakers were unconvinced.

Mental Health Awareness

As part of Mental Heath Month, the Vineyard Haven Public Library will have a display case featuring information about organizations helping individuals and families dealing with mental illness to learn more about the illnesses and to provide support. There will be a list of suggested reading materials available. As part of the library’s programming, Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness will be shown on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. The display case will be up for the month of October.

I want to say that fall might be the whole reason for living on the Vineyard. We have had a series of beautiful days; the humidity has finally lifted, nights are cool for sleeping and I can find parking spaces

By LYNNE IRONS

I want to say that fall might be the whole reason for living on the Vineyard. We have had a series of beautiful days; the humidity has finally lifted, nights are cool for sleeping and I can find parking spaces.

The garden is putting in its final effort. I am actually preparing meals again. I’ve mentioned before the sorry state of my life mid-summer; to spend a day canning tomatoes and then sending out for pizza simply boggles the mind.

The winners of the third annual Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce business awards, the Marthas, have been determined through vote of the membership. And the winners are:

Outstanding personal service: Basics Clothing.

Community hero: Cronig’s Market

Everybody’s favorite: Bunch of Grapes Bookstore.

Repair Extraordinaire: Vineyard Hearth Patio & Spa.

Turning the ordinary into the extraordinary this year: The Steamship Authority.

Promotion genius: Sharky’s Cantina.

We lucked out and had a beautiful day for Basil Welsh’s memorial service which was held at Abel’s Hill Cemetery. Basil loved birds and frequently called me when he had an unusual visitor to his pond or yard. He would have been pleased to see the pair of red-tailed hawks circling overhead during the graveside service. We have lost a true Island character and a lover of birds and all things wild. I would like to suggest that the town of Chilmark put up bird houses in appropriate locations around Abel’s Hill Cemetery.

Real Estate School Honored

Dukes Academy has been selected as one of the top three real estate schools in the commonwealth by Banker and Tradesmen, a leading real estate and banking journal. More than 40,000 votes were cast in the balloting.

The feeling of not wanting summer camp to end is familiar to many — and at Camp Sizanani, even the counselors want it to last forever. Founded in 2003 by Philip Lilienthal, a seasonal resident of Menemsha, the camp’s aim is to educate HIV-at-risk kids, either those who have it or have been affected by it, in Soweto, South Africa.

“Will you walk into my parlor?” said the Spider to the Fly; “Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.”

The webs of funnel web weaver spiders might just be the very prettiest parlors of all, ready for a cricket, ant or grasshopper to drop by for a visit. Announced or not, an insect is a welcome guest to a funnel weaver spider.

Music from New Mexico

On Saturday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. the Chilmark Public Library story hour is taking a journey to New Mexico when musician Jeanie McLerie leads the group. Ms. McLerie hails from Silver City, New Mexico and with her husband, Ken Keppeler, she is one half of the group Bayou Seco. Ms. McLerie teaches sing-a-longs and participatory songs as well as New Mexican dances.

Admission is free. Call 508-645-3360 for information.

On Sunday, Oct. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. the Gay Head Gallery will celebrate Columbus Day weekend with a show to benefit ACE MV, the Island’s Adult Center for Education.

An exhibit of paintings, photographs, and other works of art inspired by the beauty and richness of the Vineyard, and a short presentation about ACE MV will be the main feature of the show.