Well September is slipping away as quick as you can say Jack Frost! It had been warm but a touch of fall, which begins next Friday, is in the air. The ducks and geese have begun their trek southward and for years that has included a brief rest stop in the Mill Pond to relax and refresh. Christmas books have begun to arrive in the mail and Halloween is being promoted and displayed in stores more and more each day. The bass derby is in full swing and fish appear to be plentiful. These days the sun is setting around 6:45 p.m.

Anna Alley, of State Road, returned to the USA from a week in England last Saturday. She met up with her sister Nina and attended to some family business. They got a chance to visit with some of their relatives. Nicole picked her up at the airport and she spent the weekend with them before returning on Tuesday.

Remember that the annual Living Local Harvest Festival will take place at the Agricultural Hall next Saturday. There will be a wide variety of agricultural events with over 50 vendors, including a special farmers’ market. It will conclude with a community supper at 5 p.m. and dancing until 10 p.m.

Also the 31st annual antique power show starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 5. George Hartman of Panhandle Road, known far and wide as the guru of steam engines, reports that this will be the Antique Power Association’s 28th annual show at the Antique Power Museum in the Agricultural Society’s newest barn. All owners of old or not so old machinery (gas and steam engines, toys, cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors and machinery rusty or otherwise) are invited. For more information, call him at 508-693-6039. The museum plans to run antique “hit and miss” gas engines, steam engines, and the 1902 Rambler replica car. Volunteers to help set up on Friday afternoon would be very much appreciated. The event will be held in conjunction with the annual Harvest Fest.

Sig Vaan Raan reports this week is that after spending most of last month recovering from Lyme he feels just fine. Recently his wife Susan’s daughter Willie came in for a brief visit with her husband, Mike. The highlight of their trip was lobstering with Sherm Goldstein.

After a few quiet days, the onslaught began again. They entertained four friends from New York, Eve Ellis, Annette Niemzov, Stuart Levy and Charles Berkman, who were treated to a convertible tour of up-Island in Sig’s ‘63 Ford Falcon with a CD player blaring out music of that era. Then this past weekend, Susan’s long time friend from college, Carole Hymowitz, came with her husband Jarloth. They are staying in the cottage.

Sig is anxiously wondering whether they’ll be able to attend the opening of his play at Havana’s Bertolt Brecht Theatre this Saturday given the recent hurricane as well as the next one churning up and heading for the same path as Irma.

On Oct. 21, 1946 the Grange held a husking bee and barn dance following their regular business meeting at the Agricultural Hall. The committee in charge of the event was Arnold and Priscilla Fischer, George and Lillian Magnuson, Harry West, and Percy Burt. A host of local musicians performed at the dance: Mike and Leonard Athearn, Everett Whiting, Ernest Correllus, Stan Murphy, Artie Look and Gayle Huntington. George Magnuson sang several songs. The hall was decorated with pumpkins and corn stalks and by all accounts it was a delightful and memorable evening.

Happy birthday to: Betsy Fisher, Evan Fielder, Susan Hauch and Manny Nunes Friday; Charlie Kernick, Tracey Olsen, Greg Pachico and Brendan Karalekas Saturday; Susan Clements, Jill Murtha and Celine Segel on Sunday; Sandra Bernat, Mary Dacey, Laura Marshard and Macayah Goodell on Monday; Susan Block, Glenn Gordon, Eleanor Stanwood, and Marcy Holmes on Tuesday; Susan Silk, Tony Rezendes, Marilyn Hollingshead and Lenny Beford on Wednesday; and Amanda Dickinson and Judy and Larry Schubert on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Melissa Thomas and Jack Ryan.

What is all of the social news for this week’s edition. Remember that Saturday is Tivoli Day in Oak Bluffs. If you have any news please call or e-mail me.

Send West Tisbury news to alleys@vineyard.net.