The Martha's Vineyard Land Bank has agreed to purchase one of Chilmark's quintessential homesteads - the Hollis Burton Engley home off Middle Road.

Rainstorms that crossed the Island last month were exactly what the Vineyard needed. After a September that was the wettest month of the year so far, lawns are once again lush and plants are looking healthy.

According to rainfall data collected at the National Weather Service cooperative station in Edgartown, the total rainfall for the past month was 6.15 inches. The Vineyard hadn't seen that much rainfall since the 6.11 inches that fell in August of last year.

Some of the winners in the 57th annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby aren't even fishing. Thanks to the generosity of fishermen and derby organizers, senior citizens across the Island are eating the freshest-caught fish every night.

Many excellent fish fillets are collected each day by contest officials.

The son of an Edgartown commercial fisherman is this year's winner of the 21st annual Kids' Derby, held Saturday at the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority Wharf. Adam Castro, 6 years old, caught a 19-inch fluke; his father is Scott Castro.

More than 250 youngsters from around the Island participated in the morning of fishing and prizes. Most of the top winners of this year's contest caught fluke - large, doormat-sized fluke.

The 57th annual Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby began Wednesday without a hitch. Brendan Langley, the weigh master, was dressed for the ordeal of weighing in each of the four species of fish: striped bass, bluefish, false albacore and bonito. When the weigh-in headquarters opened at 8 a.m. fishermen were already standing outside. In 15 minutes all four species of fish had made an appearance on the scale.

The 57th annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby starts tomorrow morning. For some of the Island's anglers, it can't start fast enough. Fishermen started talking about this year's derby months ago. They talked about the derby when the first striped bass arrived in Vineyard waters in April.