The weather had been unusually mild, allowing us time to put down the storm windows without freezing your hands. Then rain hit Friday night and most of Saturday followed by a strong wind that canceled ferries. Tree limbs and thousand of leaves were blown away. Our foliage, what is left of it, is at the peak of color. This year political signs appear to have become more visible that pumpkins. Charter School scarecrows are in front of many business.

On Monday night we will celebrate Halloween. Its origin comes from an ancient Celtic festival that is at least 2,000 years old. The American tradition of trick or treat dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. Poor people would beg for food and were given pastries called soul cakes. By the 1920s, Halloween had become a community holiday with parades and townwide parties. Today we spend an estimated $7 billion on the occasion annually, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday.

On Monday the library will host its annual Halloween party from 3:30 to 5 p.m. There will be hayrides, crafts, treats and costumes galore. The Friends of the Library are sponsoring this party. The event is free.

There will be a special town Meeting on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the school gym. Voters will deliberate on a five-article warrant; a quorum of 130 will be needed to conduct town business.

Town clerk Tara Whiting reminds anyone wishing to vote in the presidential election on Nov. 8 that absentee ballots are available at the town hall. This year the state has instituted early voting; it began on Monday and will last until Nov. 4. tara says voting so far has been brisk.

Anna and Sam Alley went up to East Taunton and Providence, R.I., to attend the christening of our twin grandsons Eddie and Mark at Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church. It was followed by a special luncheon for family and friends at the Madeira Restaurant in East Providence.

The Martha’s Vineyard CROP walk was held last Sunday. Over the years, members of the Congregational Church have been active participants in the walk and Rosemarie Doane has been at the forefront. Steadfast in her commitment, she personally raised about $2,000 each year. Because she is no longer able to participate, this year all gifts to the church team are made in her honor. As of earlier this week they had raised over 5,000. There is still time to honor Rosemarie with a donation. If you donate by check, please make it out to: Church World Service/CROP and send it to Woody Bowman, Box 335, West Tisbury MA 02575.

History note: On Oct. 27, 1947 the Grange sponsored a successful costume party for 35 children and a large number of adults in the Agricultural Hall. The party opened with all the children in costume marching around the room so they could be judged. First prize for the most attractive was won by three-year-old Karen Barker dressed as Little Red Riding Hood; second went to Carol Spencer in costume as Cinderella; and third to Margaret Duquette who dressed as a little old fashioned lady. First prize for the most horrible costume was awarded to yours truly, second to George Churchill and third to Judith Cronig. The hall was attractively decorated with festoons of crepe paper decorations and the windows latticed with orange and black paper, lanterns and pumpkins were hung including a witch peeping out from the parted curtain on the stage. All this work was done by young ladies of the Grange, Marjorie Manter, Alice Magnuson, Virginia Rabello and Elizabeth King. Games were played and the refreshment table fascinated the children with its decorations of doughnut men with candy faces made by Lillian Magnuson. She also served cider, Halloween lollipops and other treats.

Happy Birthday to: Lisa Epstein, John Adams, John Bugbee, Forrest D’Olympia and Olivia DeGeoffroy today; Marjorie Dolan, Laura Entner, and Adam Church tomorrow; Judith Baumrin, Cole Ferraiuolo, Hermine Hull, Coco Brown, Laurie Larsen and Timothy Donovan on Monday; Doug Kent, Mike Rouse, Ken Leuchtenmacher, Gabrielle Knight and Elizabeth Bouck on Tuesday; Rainy Monast, Charlene Douglas, Henry Gallagher, Mary Lee McCormack , Lucy Mayhew, Gail Rowe and Suzanne Howes on Wednesday; Norman Perry, Mike Lynch, Sarah Monast and James Willis on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Sandy Hill, Emily Dwyer and Spencer Dwyer, and belated anniversary wishes to Charlie and Stevie Kernick.

Well, that is all the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Happy Halloween everyone!