In reference to item 2 in my list: a reader tracked me down and called my home to inform me that ragweed and goldenrod are NOT the same plant. Mea culpa. My apologies to allergy sufferers of the world, and to the lovely goldenrod flowers.

Top 10 Signs Summer’s Almost Over

1. Lifeguards are gone from the beaches. Okay, so Ripley doesn’t have an accessible public beach and you’re not supposed to swim there anyway, but for places that have lifeguards, summer is over on Labor Day. Party poopers.

2. The Goldenrod, or Ragweed as it is also called, is in full glorious bloom. Every highway is lined and every farm field is swaying with those tall, golden yellow clumps of flowers. A lot of people are allergic to ragweed; sneezing, runny nose, water/itchy eyes are a few of the delights those sufferers go through. On the other hand, it’s quite a pretty flower. My mother used to cut goldenrod and bring it into the house for flower arrangements when I was young. Not one of us five kids suffers from hay fever.

3. The Ripley United Methodist Church is having a Meat Loaf Dinner tonight, Thursday the 9th starting at 5 o’clock in their church hall. If this were truly summer, they would be serving chicken barbeque or burgers and dogs. Meat loaf is comfort food, something to warm you on a chilly evening. I’m really looking forward to some comfort food about now.

4. Community Day is coming up quickly. Sunday the 12th will find a lot of Ripley residents, and hopefully some from the surrounding communities, strolling around Fireman’s Field, checking out the various organizations and groups’ offerings. There will be chances to win prizes, games, activities and of course, the Auxiliary Chicken Barbeque, as well as other fun things to do. The fun begins at 10 a.m., with the barbeque ready to serve by noon.

5. The Friends of the Ripley Library are winding down their fundraisers after a summer of high gear activity. For those of you not aware of the FoL, they are an organization devoted to raising funds to help the library as well as lending a hand when needed at the library. Their current project is to completely renovate the back room, which has become a catch-all for everything. All summer long they held various sales to raise money and are almost half-way to their goal. The bake sale at Community Day will wind down the flurry for awhile.

6. Temperatures are falling, and rising, and falling… And the wind has picked up. Sure signs summer’s back has been broken. We’re still in for some warm days, I’m sure, but the humidity seems to have left us and those glorious winds make any temperature bearable.

7. Grape harvest has started! It’s early this year and the grapes smell heavenly as you drive past the vineyards. No harvesting in the snow or worrying about frost this year! (fingers and eyes crossed) Time to work on those farmer’s tans a little while longer. And yes, to those non-believers, you CAN tan, and burn, on a cloudy day.

8. The first day of autumn falls on Wednesday, September 22 this year, so officially summer is over – but not the fun.

9. Noble Winery is the site once again this year for Skip Roberts to present A Tribute to George Strait. Mr. Roberts’ renditions of the music of the country greats are not only fun to listen to, but if last year is any indication, easy to dance to as well. The annual wine and cheese benefit for the Ripley Free Library will take place on Saturday, September 25th. Call the library at 716-736-3913 for more information and tickets.

10. School has started. Now if that isn’t the ultimate sign that summer is over, I don’t know what is. Have a great year, kids!