A hint of a beautiful sunrise slipped out from under the clouds this morning.

A reminder: Yes, Halloween is really this Friday, for those confused by all the H’ween happenings!

A couple of big days ahead. Voting, finally, will be next Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall. Growing up in a small, upstate New York town, local politics were not really riveting, and my parents were not very partisan or political. But we all picked up on the cool democracy we’re blessed with.

Cool and messy (one parent voted for LBJ, the other for Barry Goldwater). Here’s hoping you make your vote count on local, county, and state elections, and those interesting referendum issues.

You can still vote by absentee ballot, though this Thursday, Oct. 30 is the last day to apply for this without special circumstances. The Town Clerk’s office is open from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday.

The Westport Community Association is manning a booth outside the Town Hall on Nov 4. Members of the WCA will have a flier about their various programs, explaining the Association’s goals. There’s also a brief questionnaire asking for your suggestions about improving the association's offerings. Take a few minutes and talk with WCA members — neighbors and friends — who are hoping to increase community spirit on the island. The questionnaire can be filled out Tuesday or taken home and returned later.

Maybe we could save this for later, but you know it’s coming — turning back our clocks on Sunday morning (or Saturday night). We go from Daylight to Standard time on Nov. 2. This happens in countries around the world at about this time of the year, so I’m thinking we’re up to the challenge.

That was tough news to bring up. Good news, though: The first rehearsal for the Christmas program went well. Everyone took to the new music with gusto, according to Director Wendy Thompson. And it’s not too late to join the choir — rehearsals will be on Sundays from 4 to 5 p.m. from now through early December at Carol Blake’s, 27 Jay’s Lane. All are welcome and Wendy promises you’ll enjoy the camaraderie, wonderful new music and old favorites. 

Did you notice the headline “Artistic expression at its finest” in last week’s paper? Yep, Sarah Rhinelander knocked it out of the park, receiving second place among 87 Maine artists and 130 works of art in the ARTinME exhibition at the Boothbay Region Arts Foundation!

Her “Riding out the Storm” pastel shows a wind-blown Blue Jay seemingly calm, nestled in the woods but maybe a little anxious. The sixth annual ARTinME show is up through Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it’s quite excellent. BRAF is at 1 Townsend Avenue, on the main corner in downtown Boothbay Harbor (at the busy intersection of Commercial, Oak, Townsend and McKown). Please call 207-633-2703 to be sure about their open days. 

Waiting for more leaves to fall, and playing with a leaf blower to break up the raking routine at mewbarnes2@yahoo.com.