Must be the time of year. I have been starting my last few columns with food news and today is no exception. I wanted to stop using artificial sweeteners in my coffee. I don’t use sugar. So I posted that. A respondent said, use maple syrup. It is perfect.

Good news and sad news in football. Our Patriots won last weekend! The sad news in football is the Island Cup against Nantucket was supposed to be here on Nov. 1. But our MVRHS coach had to forfeit because we have so many injured varsity players. Get well soon, team.

While I love the Toronto Blue Jays, I must go with my first love, the Dodgers. I shall never forgive Walter O’Malley for selling them to L.A. They were always my Brooklyn Bums. However I have read that the Power Broker, Robert Moses, had a great deal to do with it.

Touch a Truck Day is at our high school on Nov. 8. My son adored this. He especially was fascinated by cement mixers. There will be trucks, and there will be pizza and snacks for purchase there as well.

So sad to hear that Elizabeth Fisher passed, the wife of Fred Fisher lll. Our condolences to the family and friends.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along Barbara McMurray and Dani Almodovar on Oct. 22; Dolly Campbell observed Oct. 25; Ellen McClusky celebrated on Oct. 26; and Bobby Jo Sears took the cake on Oct. 27. Many happy returns.