The annual U.S. Coast Guard in-the-water safety inspection of the Chappy Ferry boats will take place mid-morning on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Expect delays that morning and please allow more time to get across with a vehicle.

Beginning Sunday, Oct. 19 (which is the day after the fishing derby ends) only one ferry boat will be in service while the other one makes the voyage to Vineyard Haven for out-of-the-water maintenance and Coast Guard inspection. The On Time 2, which is the shorter of the two vessels, will remain to carry all of the traffic. You can help yourself and your neighbors by driving a shorter vehicle if you have a choice. If you can shorten your vehicle by removing trailer hitches and bike carriers, you will be more likely to be the third vehicle on the ferry. Your neighbor then may be getting over one ferry trip earlier as well.

During the approximately six-week period between the end of the derby and Thanksgiving when only one ferryboat is in service, use of the cut-line will be curtailed. The Chappy Ferry steering committee has recommended that concrete trucks be excluded from the cut line. This hopefully will encourage contractors and homeowners to avoid big projects during that time.

Chappy Community Center potlucks resume in September. They will be on the third Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Check out the CCC online store for books by Chappy authors and CCC monogramed gear. Did you know that you can rent the hall for events such as weddings, family gatherings and birthday parties? See the website for full details.

Even though Hurricane Erin stayed well offshore, the surf it sent our way washed over Norton Point in several spots. The most visible wash-over was at the far west end. If an opening breach occurs there, that opening will need at least a decade to migrate to Wasque before closing up. With the dunes now lowered, the barrier beach is more susceptible to a breach when the next storm assaults. Keep an eye on the National Hurricane Center or Mike’s Weather Page to stay up-to-date.

As Fall approaches, wintertime constellations begin to return to the evening sky. The most easily identified star configurations are of course the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt. But at this time of year the Great Square appears just after twilight over the southeast horizon. It’s impressive in the area of the heavens that it occupies. When first visible it is standing on one corner and as it slides westward it slowly levels off to horizontal. The Great Square is part of the constellation of Pegasus, the winged horse. Google it to see how the ancients recognized a horse in the sky.