Well, the weekend weather was a mixed bag, with a couple of cool mornings the ducks and geese have begun their trek southward. For years that has included a brief rest stop in the Mill Pond to relax and refresh. People have been busy making jelly from the vast amount of beach plums, grapes and choke cherries. There seems to be a bumper crop of berries everywhere. They ripened early this year and sadly many have gone by.

At this time of year Joe Howes would remind people of an old saying that has proved to be quite true over the years: You can tell what the coming winter will be like by how large the area of black is on the first white caterpillar you see this fall.

Anna and Sam Alley of State Road went up to East Taunton last week to visit her daughter Nicole and her husband Arsen, and to take care of our grandsons Robbie and Henry. Nicole and Arsen had gone down to Florida to celebrate her birthday with friends. They returned home last Sunday night.

Lynn Demond and several friends — Peter Ferino, owner of the Boston Coffee Co., Bob Johnson, Tammy Knight-Gibbons and her husband Sean were here over the weekend. They participated in an around-the-Island bike ride. They enjoyed good weather and the scenery.

Leslie Gray of Panhandle Road reports that she and her husband Hunter Moorman have returned to their house after a 10-month renovation project. They want to thank Sara Rosenthal and Julie Prazich for allowing them to use their home last winter.

Charlie Kernick’s wife Stevie returned home after a 10-day business trip last week. He reports that they will be in residence until the holidays. They both have been tending their garden and harvesting vegetables.

James and Diane Pagnotti of Old Forge, Pa., are here this week celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. They have done a lot of sightseeing and have gone to the beach. They have returned each year for their anniversary.

David McCullough, the distinguished historian, has earned another prestigious honor, this time from France. At the French Cultural Center in Boston, consul general Fabien Fieschi was to bestow the Legion of Honor upon Mr. McCullough in recognition of his defense of French-American friendship. It is the oldest and highest honor in France.

Amy Hoff over at the library reports that on Monday at 7 p.m. Carolina Cooney will lead a discussion of Habibi by Craig Thompson. Whether you’re new to comics/graphic novels or a lifelong fan, you’ll enjoy their monthly meetings. On Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. CK Wolfson will talk about her new book Painting a Life, Ray Ellis: An Artist Seen through His Work. Throughout the month of September, the work of the wife and husband team of Moira Fitzgerald and Yann Meersseman will be on display. The photographs, Vineyard Colors, chronicle scenes from Vineyard life.

Pam Thors of the Community Preservation Committee reports they are closing in on the Sept. 19 deadline for applications for eligibility to the Community Preservation Committee for the upcoming year. Applicants may email the CPC @ cpa@westtisbury-ma.gov with questions, or visit westtisburyma.gov to file the application electronically.

Lynne Ditchfield reports that registration is open for all ACE MV fall classes online at acemv.org or stop by the new ACE MV office at 35 Greenwood avenue, 2nd floor at the MV Family Center building across from the library in Vineyard Haven. Class sizes are limited and early registration is encouraged.

The History Channel gives us this tidbit. On this day in 1813, the United States got its nickname, Uncle Sam. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, N.Y., who supplied barrels of beef to the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Wilson stamped the barrels with “U.S.” for United States, but soldiers began referring to the grub as “Uncle Sam’s.” The local newspaper picked up on the story and Uncle Sam eventually gained widespread acceptance as the nickname for the U.S. federal government. Perhaps the most famous image of Uncle Sam was created by artist James Flagg. In his version he wears a tall top hat and blue jacket and is looking straight ahead at the viewer. The image became immensely popular and was first used on the cover of Leslie’s Weekly in July 1916.

Happy birthday to Tim Barnett, Emily Lou Brush, Sofia Van Rann and Lauren Bedford today; Jimmy Powell, Wayne Greenwell and Loren Gibson tomorrow; Katherine Hough, Stan Schonbrun, Geraldine Brooks, Ann Richards and John Vandyk on Sunday; Betsy Fisher, Manny Nunes, Evan Fielder, Susan Huck and Kent Medowski on Monday; Brendan Karalekas, Winn Davis, Charlie Kernick, Tracey Olsen and Gregory Pachico on Tuesday; Celine Segel, Jason Kurth, Juliann Newton, and Jay Gardner on Wednesday; Sandra Bernat, Mary Dacey, Laura Marshard and Colin Brannen on Thursday.

Remember that tomorrow is Tivoli Day in Oak Bluffs. Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or email me. Have a great week.

Send your West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.