The calendar says it has been autumn for a while, now.

The weather, at times, has indicated that fact, as well, although it seemed to want to hang onto summer a lot longer this year.

But I can tell you with 100% certainty this morning that autumn has arrived in the region.

That fact was confirmed to me earlier in the week as I drove west on M-32 and passed between Evergreen and Holy Cross cemeteries. The trees that line the road through that section of highway always seem to burst out in vibrant colors. This week, the color palette that must have been used to paint the trees was nothing short of spectacular.

According to the folks at Pure Michigan, fall colors in this region should have arrived at their peak earlier in the week, and will be beginning to shed more of their color from this point on. The reason for the later transformation this year was the extended period of warm weather the region basked in pretty much all this month.

Of course, another sure sign of autumn is Halloween, with many communities across the region celebrating door-to-door trick-or-treating this weekend.

Wanting to keep that annual rite of childhood safe and happy, officials with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offer these tips:

∫ Talk with children about Halloween safety and expectations.

∫ Stay outdoors for activities, particularly if participants are not vaccinated against the coronavirus.

∫ Trick-or-treat in small groups.

∫ Avoid congregating in groups around houses.

∫ If indoors or in crowded outdoor settings, wear a face mask covering both mouth and nose (a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth facemask).

∫ Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask if wearing both causes difficulty breathing. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

Tips for homeowners to consider:

∫ Distribute candy on a table to eliminate direct contact with the children.

∫ Consider handing out candy in an open space where distancing is possible, rather than from the front door.

As always, I urge parents to accompany younger children, and all ghosts and goblins should carry a flashlight for easier visibility.

I urge motorists to slow down and drive exceptionally cautiously through neighborhoods where trick-or-treating is taking place.

Finally, since we are talking autumn, don’t forget to turn your clocks back next Sunday, Nov. 7. At that time, daylight savings time ends, and, yes, everyone should gain an extra hour of sleep that night.

That switch, though, comes with a price, and the price is that, from that point on, it will keep getting darker earlier each day until the winter solstice arrives Dec. 21.

And, for those who really are inquisitive, March 13 of next year is when we will adjust our clocks back to daylight savings time.

Bill Speer recently retired as the publisher and editor of The News. He can be reached at bspeer@thealpenanews.com.