I’m writing this during a lovely, cozy, stormy afternoon, which looks as though it will get even stormier. We have wrapped our batteries in toilet paper, filled the bathtub with chicken soup, and all the other recommended preparations. With luck, West Tisbury will weather this nor’easter without loss and wake up tomorrow to a scrubbed-feeling, leaf-strewn autumn. It’s well past time for wool socks.

The special town meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in the West Tisbury School gym. Lots of important stuff on the slate: a new revenue-sharing formula for Tri-Town Ambulance, a new roof for the West Tisbury School, refurbished heat and air conditioning for the Chilmark School. Let’s all turn out for this, en masse, in masks. Every single voter, stacked to the rafters. Power to the people.

Can I give an appreciative fist-bump to our town planners, for breaking with the hideous recent trend of 5 p.m. meetings? Everyone I know is sick of my carping about this, but really, 5 p.m. is an impossible time for an awful lot of people. We are either just walking out of work, still driving kids around, or getting dinner on the table. To all you hardworking organizing people: there is no perfect time for a meeting, of course, but 5 p.m. gives the distinct impression that you don’t want us there.

At 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, the First Congregational Church will host an in-person afternoon of song featuring soprano Molly Conole, pianist Lisa Weiss, trumpeter John Schilling and poet Rose Styron. The suggested $20 donation at the door benefits the church, but if you can’t make it, stream it at fccowt.org.

Also on Halloween, come to the West Tisbury Library from 2:30 until 4 p.m. for the annual costume party. This will be outdoors, so with any luck all this bluster will have blown itself out by then. There will be hayrides, games, food, and pumpkin painting.

Personally, I never make it to the library party anymore, because well before sundown my older children are straining on their leashes toward the hardcore trick-or-treat scene in Vineyard Haven. But for younger or saner people, the library party is a perfect pre-game. I feel like it’s earlier this year than usual; is that true? Having Halloween on Sunday is so leisurely, it’s almost decadent.

Monday, Nov. 1 is the last chance to schedule parent-teacher conferences at the West Tisbury School, and actually infiltrate the school building for the first time in what feels like a very, very long time.

I hope to see everybody at the Barn Raisers Ball, 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Ag Hall. This year, in honor of this seemingly never-ending planetary plague, the ball will take place under the stars. They are selling tickets this year, $15 for non-members and $10 for members, which is a bit of a gamble; if it rains, the price of admission turns into a donation. Kids under 12 are free. The dessert potluck is off this year, again thanks to the infernal pandemic, but bring your own beverages and be ready to dance - or just cluster up with all the people you haven’t seen in ages.

Applications for the Red Stocking Fund are being accepted now. We all know the Red Stocking Fund and we all love it. It’s rough out there, especially now. Don’t think twice if you need a helping hand this year.

Mark your calendar for the West Tisbury Task Force Against Discrimination meet and greet on Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Participants are urged to come with thoughts, ideas, and questions. Email wttfad@gmail.com to sign up.