September has slipped away rapidly and we are now in the fall season. Folks are looking forward the harvest festival and antique power show next weekend. The derby is in full swing and the fish appear to be plentiful. The traffic is definitely slower during the week as we approach the last full week of the shoulder season.

The 11th annual Living Local Harvest Festival starts next Friday night, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. at the Grange Hall and all day Saturday at the Agricultural Hall on Panhandle Road from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be workshops, exhibits, pumpkin carving, cider pressing, farm and garden crafts, campfire education, face painting and field games, oxen rides from the Farm Institute and visits with animals at work and Island alpacas. A community potluck supper will commence at 6 p.m. with local musicians playing afterwards. George Hartman reports that the 25th annual Antique Power Show will be happening at the same time in the barn on the property. He is organizing it again this year, and asks all exhibitors to plan to set up between 9 and 10 a.m. on Saturday or late Friday afternoon. He will be there on Friday after 4 p.m. to set up the grounds. Any help is welcome. If you have any questions, please call him at 508-693-6039. George, the master of steam engines, will have a display that will mostly include early automotive engines from the mid 1890s through 1903.

Anna Alley of State Road again went up to East Taunton to visit grandsons Robbie and Henry and their parents Arsen and Nicole. Then she went on to her sister Nina’s house in Providence and then down to Canton, Conn., to visit Denise Mount and Don Evon. She is recovering from a broken ankle suffered in early July. Anna can now drive and is taking full advantage of that fact. Sam and I are holding down the fort in her absence.

Charlie Kernick reports that he and his wife Stevie hosted Connie and Jim Sessoms from Hillsborough, N.C., last week. It was their first trip to the Vineyard, and as they have promised, it won’t be the last. They treated them to a birthday dinner and joined them hiking on several Island trails, along with their daily over-indulgence in seafood.

Old friend Beach Bennett passed away on Sept. 17. She was the wife of Bill Bennett and mother of their daughter Bella. A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday at the Agricultural Hall from 2 to 5 p.m., also if anyone would like to bring a dessert to share they would appreciate it. My condolences to her family.

Dan Leventritt and Jen Wool of South Road held a party to celebrate Dan’s family purchasing the Blue Barque 50 years ago. It was quite the celebration, lots of people, T-shirts, fine food, live music and adult beverages were available for all to enjoy. Dan has done an outstanding job of having the old house completely restored to its former glory and Jen was responsible for the furnishings. About the only people missing were Capt. Stephen Flanders, the original owner, and the Cavert sisters who made the place a premier tea room on the Island many years ago.

Chuck Hodgkins reports that the Mill Brook Watershed Management Planning Committee will hold its first of several public forums on Monday, Sept. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the West Tisbury library. The committee will discuss why it was formed and its charge, what they have learned so far, what they need to learn and why, and will ask what concerns town residents would like to see addressed.

Tara Whiting, town clerk, wants to remind anyone wishing to register to vote in the state election on Nov. 4 that they must do so by Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. in the town hall. She is available every weekday. If you have any election questions, please call her at 508-696-0148.

The ACE MV Course Sampling Fair is next Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the regional high school from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Come meet the teachers, register for classes and sample delicious food prepared by the cooking instructors. Reminder, there is a $10 late fee if you sign up on the day of the course, so register now. For more information, call Diane Abbot at 508-693-9222.

Geoff Currier reports that on Tuesday Flatbread Pizza will host a benefit night for the West Tisbury Library Foundation. The library will receive $3.50 for every large pizza and $1.75 for each small pizza sold. Takeout starts at 2 p.m. The dining room is open from 4 to 8 p.m. In addition, there will be a raffle and a silent auction and a 50/50 cash drawing.

Happy birthday to Wayne Smith, Mariko Kawaguchi and Lawrence Benson today; Natalie Conroy, Moria Silva, Nancy Isenberg and Leonard Schoenfeld tomorrow; John Abrams, Jill Bouck, Lynn Christoffers, Heather Hoff, Frankie Flanders, Megan Mendenhall and Oscar Hansen on Sunday; Kent Healy, PJ Kirby Jr., Susan Spence, Rebecca Cournoyer and John Scherlis on Monday; Pam Thomas, Chris Stein, Linda Izzo, Richard Andre, Katlin Kramm, Missy Manter and Wesley Look on Tuesday; Ellen Gaskill, Quinn Retmier, Rachel Rooney, and Doug Hakey on Wednesday; Anna Carringer, Robert Tonti, Matthew Cassiani and Christy Phillipps on Thursday. Belated birthday greetings to Marjorie Pierce. Anniversary greetings to Will and Leslei Monast on Tuesday.

Well, that is all of the social news for this week’s column. If you have any news, please call or email me. Have a great week.

Send your West Tisbury news to: alleys@vineyard.net.