Aquinnah feels more like early winter, with temperatures dipping into the 20s. The foliage is beginning to appear with vivid colors of orange, yellow and red around town and especially along Lobsterville Road. Enjoy while it lasts. Go Sox!

Sorry if you missed the second annual Ladyfest on Saturday. A great adventure for all ages enjoying the Vineyard’s female musicians from one end of Circuit Avenue to the top at Healey Square. Larkin Stallings hosted the first Ladyfest in 2017 at the Ritz and knew it would be much larger this year. By all means, it appeared to be a success for the benefit of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Connect to End Violence Program.

Reminder: early voting today at the Aquinnah town hall is held on Oct. 26, noon to 3 p.m., Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, noon to 4 p.m., Nov. 1, noon to 4 p.m. and Nov. 2, noon to 3 p.m.

The ghosts and goblins will be out trick-or-treating on Halloween but, until then, please stop by the Aquinnah Library tomorrow and make spooky spiders from pom-poms between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Vineyard turned out in droves to wish Bridget Tobin a happy retirement after 44 years with the Steamship Authority, representing each and every segment of the Island. I suggested to SSA general manager Robert Davis that Bridget should teach classes in public relations as she has certainly been at the forefront all of these years with her graciousness, compassion, concern, and with a smile. Bridget is a treasure and we are all glad that she will return to her post during the summers.

Just a week ago, Bridget and I reminisced about the steamship strike of 1960 that lasted for quite a few weeks. Everything was delivered to the Island by the local fishermen and their boats. They carried passengers, livestock, vehicles, food, freight and whatever needed to be shipped here.

Bridget reminded me of that day in March, 1980 when the Islander hit a rock on the way out of Oak Bluffs. Fortunately, Captain Antone Jardin returned the Islander to the dock as fast as possible with no loss of life or property. The Oak Bluffs Fire Department and others were on duty for the remainder of the day, continuously pumping to keep the Islander afloat as there was a tear in the side of the ferry. At the time, the Islander was the only ferry running. Guess what? The Vineyard remained without ferry access for a week – and not one Vineyarder complained!

One day I will have to label all of the photographs from that day and archive them appropriately. If they were to eliminate some of the vehicles arriving on the Island, would you want to be the next one in line and be told: “Sorry, no more vehicles!” No, I do not believe you would want to be in that position. In recent years, I have noticed that more and more seasonal homeowners have their Island vehicles registered here and leave them here for the off season. P.S. Have you noticed the SSA must be doing something right? Many of the employees have more than four decades of employment.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Harriet Howland (Poole) Otteson who passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 20 at Cape Cod Hospital. We enjoyed sharing genealogical information and anything of historical interest. Just two weeks ago, Harriet gave me a Martha’s Vineyard Magazine with an article about the late Gladys Widdiss. Harriet had traveled the world and shared her knowledge, photographs and treasures from her adventures, especially those from her trip to Cuba which she had presented at the Howes House. Her services will be held on Monday, Oct. 29 at Abel’s Hill Cemetery.

Happy 56th anniversary wishes to Paul Henry and Beth Mayhew as they celebrate on Oct. 27.

Happy birthday this week to Paul Henry Mayhew on Oct. 27 who shares the day with Katie Tamoshunas Carroll and Patricia Rossi. Captain Buddy Vanderhoop will celebrate his birthday on October 29.

Aquinnah town news can be sent to junemanning152@gmail.com.