Margaret Knight>

508 627-8894

(margaret02539@yahoo.com)

Some of the Chappaquiddick trees and vines have changed colors and given the island a look of fall. The bright red Virginia creeper seems suspended on a sea of green, up in the tops of the trees, or else contrasts nicely with the dark brown trunk where it climbs a pine.

Both the grape and the bittersweet vines are turning a mellow yellow. The bittersweet is covered with mustard yellow berries that are starting to open and reveal their surprisingly bright orange insides. These berries makes great fall decoration, but just don’t make the mistake I did and throw them into the bushes or compost pile when you’re done with them. Bittersweet is an invasive; I started a big patch of it in my yard before I knew that.

The beetlebungs on the little island in Brine’s Pond and elsewhere are that deep maroon red blending to dark orange that is such a satisfying fall color. This is also the time of year poison ivy comes into its own and if you can forgive its transgressions, you have to admire the many hues of red and orange this vine turns.

Like the other fall fruits, the acorns are in great abundance this year. It looks as if the oaks are trying to take over the ecosystem the way their progeny are sprouting everywhere. If we don’t mow them over, I think our yard would become a dense oak forest in 20 or 30 years.

Last Saturday I made my yearly foray to St. Andrew’s white elephant sale. There is always lots of stuff and some inexpensive treasures. I saw Jo-Ann Tilghman there with a shirt I coveted in the armful of clothes she’d culled. She had spent time at the church the week before, along with Varian Cassat, helping to sort through the piles and setting up the sale. She likes to help partly because so many of her children and grandchildren have been married or baptized there. Claire Thacher was at the sale minding the scarves, shoes and hats. I found a crock pot to replace mine which is cracked and as soon as I got home, Sidney telephoned and mentioned he’d heard in Oak Bluffs that I’d bought a crock pot. What an effective grapevine for such a small Island!

I like to get to Marsha Winsryg’s African art and craft sales at her home in West Tisbury, but she sent word of an event happening soon at the Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven. The African Artists’ Community Development Project is premiering their documentary film Waging Peace in Zambia (20 minutes) on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Afterward, there will be a silent auction of antique African ceremonial cloths, contemporary folk art and wall hangings. Zambian crafts will also be on sale and hors d’oeuvres will be served. All are welcome; a $10 donation is suggested. You can contact Marsha Winsryg at marshawinsryg@gmail.com or at 508-693-4059.

On Monday, Kim Bennett told me a small gray cat with a possible white marking on its chest had been hanging around her and Brad’s house at the North Farm land bank property for a couple of days. She said it was not a scaredy cat, so she’s wondering if anyone has lost their pet. You can call her at 508-627-4216.

Pat Rose has been spotted spending a lot of time at Al’s package store lately. People are starting to talk — but it turns out Pat is participating in a recycling program to raise money for the Edgartown library building fund. Pat has Sharky’s Cantina and Vineyard Scuba in Oak Bluffs and Among the Flowers in Edgartown, the Edgartown police department and Mink Meadows golf course to thank, especially, for keeping her busy redeeming bottles and cans. Pat has an early pick-up each morning, so if you see her waiting for Al’s to open, you can stop and say hello. She is happy to talk about recycling and the library, and to accept your redeemables. You can look at the library web site for more information (edgartownlibrary.org) or call Pat to arrange a pick-up. Her numbers are 508-627-3297 at home and 703-507-1854 on her cell.

Mrs. Norman (Judy) Champ, Jr. of St. Louis, Mo., and formerly of Chappaquiddick writes to announce the marriage of her son, William Zander to Aimee Dunne. The wedding was held in Seattle, Wash., at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, followed by a reception at the Sorrento Hotel Penthouse. The couple will live in Seattle and spend summers on Chappy.

Plans are underway for a dessert and film night on Friday, Nov. 2 at the community center. Mary Spencer, who runs our summer foreign film series, is choosing the title. There will be a potluck dessert selection to feast on while watching a great movie. Look for more information in the next column.

The On Time II has gone to Vineyard Haven for its regular overhaul, due back sometime next week. Peter Wells, who will be helping out, said it will be painted, have its zinc plates changed for new ones and have some rubber bumper replaced. They’ll be checking for cracks in the rudder and places where parts could break as a result of having to run harder in the strong current. Peter says that, unlike the boxy shape of the On Time III, the II has a V-shaped hull so you can stand up inside. Not everyone gets excited abut this sort of thing but Peter says, “It’s pretty cool down there,” and I don’t think he talking about the temperature.