Friday is the beginning of the Columbus Day holiday weekend and the end of the extended shoulder season for the tourists. Town buildings, schools, and the post office will be closed on Monday. The last Farmers’ Market and Artisans Festival of the season will be held this weekend at the Grange Hall. The charter school will soon be displaying their scarecrows all around the town and the Island. Can you believe that a month from today we will be operating on standard time!

Two schedule changes that will affect most everyone will go into effect early next week. On Tuesday the Vineyard Transit Authority begins its winter bus schedule and the VTA operations manager reports there will be four buses serving West Tisbury, the numbers 2, 3, 5 and 6. The bus stops in town will be at Cronig’s and in front of the town hall and Grange hall. Each bus will be serving more than one route during the day. Be sure to pick up a copy of the new schedule, call the VTA at 508-693-9440 or visit vineyardtransit.com, it also has a lot of additional ground transit information and schedules. Lois Craine reports that ridership numbers for VTA buses serving this town in July and August was slightly more than 97,000 passengers.

On Wednesday the Steamship Authority will begin operating the late fall boat schedule and all trips will begin and end in Vineyard Haven.

George Hartman reports that the Antique Power Show was successful despite the rain last Saturday. They have had poor weather for the last five shows but many people turned out to see this event as George managed to put together a display of old engines. Harry Athearn reports that the festival dinner was well attended and a good time was had by all.

Olivia Ames-Hoblitzelle and Keith Taylor of Cambridge came down to visit her sister Joan Ames at her place for three days last week. She reports having a swell time and they enjoyed the time they were here.

Phyllis Meras of Music Street represented her Wellesley college class of 1953 last Friday at the inauguration of the college’s 14th (and first African American) president, Paula A. Johnson MD. Phyllis also noted that Nora Nevin and Beatrice Nessen were in attendance.

Anna Alley of State Road returned home Sunday night after a weekend visit with the grandchildren and their parents in East Taunton.

Ann Quigley, over at the library, reports that the library will offer four free pilates classes with local instructor Judy Kranz on Fridays in October at 4 p.m. All levels welcome. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Participants must commit to all four sessions. Sign up at the library or call 508-693-3366. This series is open to ages 15 and up. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Anna Carringer reports that on Sunday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. the Martha’s Vineyard Museum will celebrate the 2016 season at the Gay Head Lighthouse. Len Butler will be recognized for his leadership role in the lighthouse relocation project.

A social note from the past. On Oct. 12, 1946 Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Newhall, of San Francisco, Calif., who had spent several months at their home opposite Brandy Brow on South Road, departed for home. Their daughter Miss Jane Newhall accompanied them back home to their Pacific avenue home.

Happy birthday to: Susan Whiting, Molly Gray, Isaac Fragosa, and Megan McDonough Friday; Richard Anderson, Lincoln Higgins, Celina Pina Shemo, Kathleen Hope, and Maxwell Ferro Saturday; Steve Lohman, Richard Rooney, Whitney Hyde, Victoria Danberg, Peter Cramer, and Sophie Abrams on Sunday, Jon Harris, Nina Oken, Lois Mayhew, and Jennifer Jones on Monday; Hanna Beecher, Julie Keefe, Bob Mone and Martha Post on Tuesday; Lisa Amols, Bob Eisendrath, Lisa Lillabridge, Art Nelson, Sherri Church, Alison Shaw, and Sara Waldman on Wednesday; and Steve Atwood, Carly Look, Cynthia Armstrong, Maeve McAuliffe and Margot Parrot on Thursday.

Happy anniversary to Spencer and Belinda Booker today, and Eric and Debbie Magnuson and Mike and Pat Lynch on Monday. Belated birthday wishes to author Holly Eger and her daughter Julia.

Well that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Tuesday. Have a great week.

The Gazette wishes John and Anna Alley a very happy anniversary on Oct. 9.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.