Well, scarecrows and pumpkins dot the landscape these days in all parts of town. There were several yard sales last weekend and the Dumptique was busier than ever. This is perhaps the last week to mow your yard and then put your lawnmower away till spring. Son Sam and friends stacked and split some wood for winter. The leaves, with rare exception, still do not have much color. Congratulations to all of the winners in the 73rd Bass and Bluefish Derby that ends on Sunday. Nov. 4, we will plunge into darkness around 5 o’clock as we will be on Eastern Standard Time and the fall and winter season will be upon us. The Steamship Authority will begin operating the late fall boat schedule on Tuesday.

Anna Alley, of State Road, went up to East Taunton last Saturday to visit the grandchildren. Her husband joined her on Sunday to help celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary with a dinner prepared by Nina’s husband Dr. Dieter Pohl. We stayed at their house in Providence. I visited the grandkids and their new house they will soon be moving into.

Linda Alley reports that the summer farmers market at the Grange Hall has ended – no market this weekend but next week the fall market begins at the Agricultural Hall from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. Stop by and try her Cranberry Jalapeno Jam!

Bruce Carlton and his significant other, Julia Roundy, of Vacaville, Calif. made their annual visit to the Vineyard last week. They brought along five house guests including his office staff. Bruce enjoys fishing the Vineyard waters and caught three 10 pound bluefish.

Town clerk Tara Whiting reports that early voting begins on Oct. 22 at the town hall and will continue from 8:30 a.m. till 2 p.m. until Nov. 2. Absentee ballots are also available and the last day to register to vote is Oct. 17.

The MV Democratic Council will meet tomorrow morning from 9:30 till 11 a.m. at the Howes House. The guest speaker will be Meghan Adams from Congressman Bill Keating’s campaign.

Naomi Plakins and her sister Ava hosted a dinner party at their Middle Road estate Monday evening. A great time was had by all.

Soprano Jenny Friedman and baritone David Behnke will present It Takes Two (or Three), a concert featuring arias and duets from opera as well as the songs of Stephen Sondheim.

The concert will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at the First Congregational Church. Tickets are available at the door. All proceeds from the afternoon will benefit the Music Program.

Olivia Larsen, over at the library reports on these activities: Saturday at 3:30 p.m., author Peter Hufstader will give a book talk about his new seagoing thriller for young adults, The Riddle of the Graveyard. Learn about how the story was written, how long it took to write, and how it was published. Starting Sunday, the library will resume Sunday hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Also on Sunday from 1:30 to 4 p.m., all are invited to a reception to celebrate From One, Many, a group art show on display throughout the month of October. Sixteen artists were given an unfinished image to use to create something new.

When you are in or near the woods these days remember that the archery season for deer is into its second week. The manager of the Manuel Correllus State Forest would like to remind people who enter the forest to wear bright colored clothing. Be extra careful when driving, as deer are apt to cross the road day or night at one of their favorite crossings.

As Halloween is nearly upon us, let me remind you of the biggest Halloween spoof accidentally played on the public. It was a live broadcast, on October 30, 1938, it was Orson Welles dramatization of H.G. Wells’ tale War of the Worlds on Mercury Theatre of the Air aired nationwide on the CBS radio network. The invasion from Mars was covered by realistic live reports interrupting the regularly scheduled program. If however, that Sunday evening you were listening to the program that was broadcast opposite it on NBC, you knew nothing about the invasion and enjoyed that show.

Happy birthday to: Lisa Lillibridge, Art Nelson, Lisa Amols, Sherri Church and Sarah Waldman Friday; Steve Atwood, Carly Look and David Finkelstein Saturday; Jeanne Borggaard, Enos Ray, Samantha Gibson, Hayley Plante-Pachico and Shelia Rayyan on Sunday; Geoff Borr, Jon Nelson III, Denise Page and Steven Barbee on Monday; Ed Mossey, John Washbrook, Jennifer Jones and Charles Everett on Tuesday; Robert Phillips, Richard Reinhardsen, Polly Bassett, Kate Hubbell and Karen Francis on Wednesday; Joe Turney, Alene Sibley and Gail Tipton on Thursday.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s edition. A bit of trivia tomorrow is the 105th anniversary of the income tax code. If you have any news please call or e-mail me. Have a great week.

West Tisbury town news can be sent to alleys@vineyard.net.