September has slipped away as quick as a wink and we are now in the fall season. The Derby is in full swing and automobile traffic is definitely slower during the week as we approach the last full week of the “shoulder season.” Last Saturday there were several weddings and Cycle Martha’s Vineyard will be held this weekend

Duncan Ross, chairman of the board of directors at the animal shelter, reports that the fifth annual walk for the animals will be held Saturday at the Edgartown School from 10 a.m. to noon. People are asked to come by with or without their pets, participate in the walk, make a donation, or seek sponsors. The money helps keep the shelter open and operating. While it is located in Edgartown it is the Island’s shelter, serving all six towns.

The Living Local harvest festival starts Friday night and runs all day Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Agricultural Hall. There will be workshops, exhibits, pumpkin carving, and cider pressing. At 5 p.m. Saturday a community potluck supper will commence with local musicians playing afterwards.

George Hartman reports that the 29th annual antique power show will be happening at the same time in the new barn on the property. He asks all exhibitors to plan to set up between 9 and 10 a.m. on Saturday or late Friday afternoon. George will be there on Friday after 4 p.m. to set up the grounds with a display that includes early automotive engines from the 1890s to 1903, and his 1902 reproduction of a Nash Rambler, one of only four still in existence. Please call him at 508-693-6039 with questions.

Lynne Demond, of Boston, stopped by to visit last Sunday. She was here for a few days with a friend showing him around the Island.

Town clerk Tara Whiting reports that on Nov. 1 there will be a special town meeting consisting of five articles at 7 p.m. in the school gym. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending. A quorum of at least 127 voters will be needed to conduct town business. Nov. 8 is the presidential election. Absentee ballots should be arriving soon, and this year the state has instituted early voting. Please contact her with any questions.

Jen Wool, who lives on South Road, was visited by her friend Kim Bartlett of Burlington, Vt. earlier in the week. She reports that they enjoyed walking on the beach, swimming, sightseeing, and shopping.

Phyllis Meras of Music Street returned home earlier this week from a business trip down to New York city.

Susan Block of Music Street reports that the Martha’s Vineyard Partnership for Health is offering a free series of six “self-education” sessions, Powerful Tools for Caregivers. every Tuesday from Oct. 11 through Nov. 15 from 1:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Edgartown Council on Aging. Registration is required. For more information please call 508-627-4368 ext. 14.

On Sept. 25, 1945 an important wartime board went out of existence with this notice by Albion A. Alley, its chairman. “Residents of the areas served by the War Price and Rationing Board will now be under the jurisdiction of the Tisbury Board on and after Oct. 1. Residents will be able to secure application blanks at S.M. Mayhew’s store or through the mail.” He promised that applications would be processed promptly and ration coupons or certificates would be mailed to applicants without delay. The board began operation in 1942, meeting at the Civil Defense Headquarters on Edgartown Road. The board approved of applications to purchase automobile, truck, and tractor tires, gasoline rationing cards and coupons to purchase rationed food products.

Happy birthday to: Kent Healy, PJ Kirby, Jr., Susan Spense, Becky Cournoyer, Phoebe Potts, and John Spheris Friday; Richard Andre, Linda Izzo, Chris Stein, Pam Thomas, and Wesley Look Saturday; Ellen Gaskell, Rachel Rooney, Barry Donner, and Doug Hake on Sunday; Barbara Bennett, Anna Carringer, Robert Tonti, Coco Adams, and Christy Phillipps on Monday; Tess Bramhall, Jim Young, Fain Hackney, Zack Post, and Kathy Logue on Tuesday; Tim Maley, Kathy Chaves, Fred Fisher 3rd, and Kim Chandler-Elias on Wednesday; and Ben Reeve, Teresa Thompson, Akia Barbosa, Catherine Flynn, and James O’Connor on Thursday.

Well that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.