Woodchucks take note. Now that the ruined garden is giving up its last zucchini and the remaining tomatoes are looking pretty small and green, it’s just about time to close up shop for the year. No need for you rodents to come scrounging in the beans anymore.

I should also point out that the very last entry on page 197 of the 2005 Old Farmer’s Almanac for Friday, September 30, includes the following imperative: “Woodchucks hibernate now.” Hear that? We presume that means groundhogs, too. See you, not until next February.

Actually, I take that back. Down at Lexington Gardens they’re hoping that a certain woodchuck shows up sometime before Groundhog Day. Tom Johnson settled down one day last week in the lunchroom at LG for what he thought was a quiet solitary lunch. A woodchuck decided to join him, and then quickly disappeared when it became apparent that there wasn’t anything on the menu for him. He apparently went looking for snacks elsewhere in the store, and Tom and his employees at Lexington Gardens have been looking for “Chucky” ever since. They don’t want to leave him alone for too long with all those tender-leafed plants in the greenhouse.

Now that we’re all in a frenzy about the Red Sox and the Yankees facing off this weekend to see who will go on to the playoffs, we might also take a long look back realizing that exactly 102 years ago, on Saturday, October 1, 1903, the first ever American League (AL) vs National League (NL) World Series opening game was played. It was the Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) battling the Boston Red Sox (AL) and the Red Sox (also known as the Pilgrims, Puritans, and Americans) prevailed. Boston’s ace pitcher was none other than 36-year-old Cy (short for “Cyclone”) Young of the blinding fast ball, for whom the most prestigious yearly pitching award is named. Boston won that game in the best of nine series, 8-5.

Only two weeks left to support the Sandy Hook Organic Farmers Market held Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 6 pm in the field behind St John’s Church and The Villa Restaurant. Market organizer Mary Fellows promises “the last tomatoes are out of sight. This is the season for wonderful squashes and pumpkins, apples and peaches, herbs and greens that you can dry to get through the whole winter.” She adds “decorative stuff, bread, and cookies” to that list, and her own organic nuts, including Bark ‘n Brittle. Perfect for Halloween.

Are you a morning or an afternoon person? Tuesday, October 11, is the last official outdoor market day. “Come support our farmers and bakers,” Mary says. “And let us know what was your favorite time period was for the market? We started with morning markets, and this year we tried afternoons. Next year we might go back to mornings, but we want to hear from you.”

Since the September 16 issue of The Bee ran a story about the plight of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Newtown, town residents have called to offer clothing, stopped by the office with an envelope of donations for the evacuees, and service agencies have phoned with a number for the newcomers to our town to call for monetary aid. That is in addition to all of the fundraisers that keep popping up as we more fortunate northerners grasp the magnitude of the difficulties our fellow Americans are confronted with in the South.

Mary Kelley had a great vacation, except for one thing — an ankle injury that occurred while she was recently in San Francisco, following a journey to Hawaii. While on the street in the City By The Bay, Mary misstepped and inadvertently injured her right ankle. Mary, who works in the first selectman’s office in Edmond Town Hall, will now have to wear a cast for about three weeks until the injury heals. That likely will be frustrating because it prevents her from driving. By Thanksgiving, however, Mary should be giving thanks for the return of her mobility.

I’m not a big fan of reality shows, at least not until they come out with one called Real Nine Lives, but a recent episode of Martha Stewart’s version of The Apprentice caught my interest. The teams had to compete in putting out a children’s book, and the book produced by the winning team did so, in my opinion, because of the great illustrations created by Newtown’s own Paul Meisel. The book was Jack and the Beanstalk, and Paul’s illustrations were winners, every one.

October’s moonless opening week promises to be great for star-gazing, so we should all get out there with our binoculars and see what’s up. Our Milky Way galaxy is highest now at nightfall, so if we can get far enough away from city lights for good viewing, we should be able to see it clearly. But watch where you step. Star-gazing black cats are pretty hard to spot on moonless nights.

I will be back here next week, in full view of everyone, so be sure to…

Read me again.