It is nuts that we went from feast to famine.

Last year, you may remember, there was a bumper crop of acorns that fell in your yard, on your windshield, and, if you didn’t seek cover, on your head! The overabundance of acorns, called a “mast” year, made for slippery walks in the woods, but very happy and well-fed wildlife.

What a difference a year makes!

A special town meeting in West Tisbury Tuesday night pitted the town’s humans against its dogs, as voters took up the divisive question of whether to continue to allow canines at Lambert’s Cove Beach in the summer.

“I don’t even go there anymore because the smell is so overpowering,” said Karen Overtoom. “I guess you have to decide whether the beach is for the people or the dogs.”

The body of a leatherback turtle, a federally protected endangered species, washed ashore at South Beach on Sunday. Volunteer members of the turtle stranding committee said the cause of death was not immediately apparent.

“There was no sign of an injury,” said Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary director Suzan Bellincampi. Ms. Bellincampi said the turtle was in a state of decomposition and had likely been floating for awhile before washing ashore.

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

Nov. 11 62 48 .15

Nov. 12 51 38 Trace

Nov. 13 60 43 .00

Nov. 14 63 56 .00

Nov. 15 64 57 .00

Nov. 16 65 54 .06

Nov. 17 60 53 .97

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 57º F.

After spending some time amid the glow of twilight in the evening during late summer and early fall and then shifting to dawn, Saturn is our morning planet. The ringed-planet rises in the southeastern sky well before the sun. On Tuesday morning, you’ll have no trouble finding Saturn. A thin crescent moon appears nearby.