September is slipping away. It has been unusually warm for this time of year but a touch of fall is in the air. Christmas books have begun to arrive in the mail and Halloween is advertised, promoted, and displayed in stores more and more each day. These days the sun is setting around 6:30 p.m.

Last Friday a crew repaired the top of the catch basin at the corner of Music street and State Road. It was covered most of the summer by a large piece of heavy gauge iron that made a rumbling sound each time a car or truck ran over it. The catch basin was made of cut stone in the old fashioned beehive shape, probably around 1900. The top part that holds the grate just wore away from all of the automobile traffic that went over it. It is now as good as new.

The Living Local harvest festival begins on Oct. 2 with a panel discussion at the Grange Hall at 7:30 p.m. and the following day over at the Agricultural Hall on Panhandle Road from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. there will be workshops, exhibits, pumpkin carving, cider pressing, a bike parade and a farmers’ market. At 5 p.m. a community supper will commence with local musicians playing afterwards.

George Hartman reports that the 27th annual Antique Power Show will be happening at the same time in the barn on the property. He is organizing it again this year and says any help is welcome. If you have any questions, please call him at 508-693-6039.

Tara Whiting, town clerk, reports that a special town meeting will be held on November 17 at 7 p.m. at the elementary school. The warrant will close on October 6. The deadline to register to vote at that meeting is October 2.

A memorial service for Ernest P. Mendenhall will be held at the Agricultural Hall Saturday at 3 p.m. There will be a potluck gathering immediately following the service so those attending are invited to bring a side dish or dessert to share, and to drive their oldest or favorite vehicle to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. Interment will be private.

A memorial for Richard Hiers was held in Weston last Saturday. Maurice Hiers and wife Charlene and Jeannine Hiers Sample and husband Leon were joined by other family members and friends for a celebration of Richard’s life. Richard spent many summers on Martha’s Vineyard at the family home. A memorial in Albuquerque, N.M. is scheduled at the end of the month.

Anna Alley of State Road returned home last Monday after visiting Nicole and Arsen and grandchildren Robbie and Henry at their East Taunton home. Robbie and Henry got to visit Thomas the tank engine and had a wonderful time.

Beth Kramer, library director, reports that they appreciate the many donors to the library book sale and thank all of you who have given them books. However lately, they have received a lot of books that are moldy or have missing covers, pages falling out or bindings torn or missing. In less than a month they have filled a large dumpster almost to the top. Even though these books are recycled, it costs a lot each time they have to have the dumpster emptied and that is money the library could use for more important things. So please look over your books before you donate them and if they are in poor condition, please put them in your recycling box and save them time and money. Also textbooks, Bibles, magazines, phone books and travel books older than two years are not acceptable.

On Oct, 12, 1949, Robin Elwell of Arrowhead Farm in Indian Hill was elected president of the Agricultural Society at their annual meeting at the Agricultural Hall. Miss Polly Mayhew was elected secretary and William Pinney treasurer. Trustees elected were Albert O. Fisher Jr., Arnold M Fisher, Jesse Steere, and Theodore Meinelt. Mr. Meinelt was also appointed chairman of the 1950 fair. Mrs. Alice Mathewson read a report on the 1949 fair and a vote of thanks was given for her splendid work. It was also voted to mail out a questionnaire to the public seeking their opinion on how to improve future fairs.

Happy birthday to: Manuel Estrella 3rd, Cynthia Wayman and Cheryl Metell Friday, Amelia Adler, Ann Fielder and Ashley Hunter Saturday, Wayne Smith, Amanda Pachico and Mariko Kawaguchi on Sunday, Natalie Conroy, Nancy Isenberg and Leonard Schoenfeld on Monday, Lynn Christoffers, Heather Hoff, Frankie Flanders, John Abrams and Jill Bouck on Tuesday, Kent Healy, PJ Kirby Jr., Samuel Enter and John Scherlis on Wednesday, and Chris Stein, Linda Izzo, Kaitlin Kram, Kimberly Carlomagno and Wesley Look on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Jen Wool.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.