Underlying the peaceful scene at Cape Pogue Bay are an unknown number of unexploded practice bombs, dating to wartime years when the area was used for military training.

Vineyard Power, the Island-owned energy cooperative, is preparing to partner with a private developer in bidding for leases early next year in the federally owned wind energy area 12 nautical miles south of the Vineyard.

Developers will bid on 25-year leases on one or more of the zones at a federal auction Jan. 29.

Following the early closure of the scalloping season in Aquinnah, town officials and shellfish biologists are trying to understand the unexpected decline in the number of adult scallops this year. The season closed Nov. 15 in response to a lack of adult scallops; a black algae was also observed growing on many of the scallop shells.

The last big meteor shower of the year takes place Saturday night. The Geminid Meteor Shower is a late autumn favorite.

Usually, I don’t mind a bit of precipitation; however, the excess that has been coming down is putting the brakes on one of my most important projects, building a house.

It looks as though we may be in for another irruption year of snowy owls. The older, wiser owls are driving the youngsters out of their territories.