Capping weeks of debate around town about whether a harbor improvement plan was in keeping with the character of Menemsha, Chilmark voters approved the plan at a special town meeting Monday night.

The vote was 40 to 25 to back the plan for rebuilding the dock and pier system in the heart of the historic fishing village. The project will be funded by a $629,000 grant from the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council.

A total of 77 voters turned out for the special session at the Chilmark Community Center Monday. There were two articles on the warrant.

Gus Ben David, of the World of Reptiles and Birds, and I have received a few calls or e-mails about ailing sea birds and shorebirds. Deb Hancock called and described a very lethargic ruddy turnstone she spotted on Lobsterville Beach. The bird could be picked up and showed no sign of concern when she approached. Deb also noticed a common loon that was up on the beach and showed very little fear when approached, except to snap its bill. This is unusual because loons are not designed to go on land; it typically indicates that a bird is weak or ill.

It is indeed bad news to see that cod, once the most abundant fish in our waters, continues to have a hard time. Despite huge efforts on the part of fishermen and scientists to come up with a mix of fishing and conservation, the stocks continue to have problems recovering from historically-low numbers.

“Patience is the greatest of all virtues.”

Though Cato the Elder figured this out around 200 BC, it is likely that crab spiders could have told him even earlier. They know that good things come to those who wait.