September is almost over. That was quick. Tomorrow begins the month of October, when retail outlets will step up their selection of Christmas items because the world is a sick, sick place.

So let's savor yesterday, the first of September's two final, humid hurrahs.

Former President Bill Clinton shared a New York City stage with Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Clinton's Global foundation will partner with Vinik on a $20 million effort to “create a road map for how cities worldwide can be designed and developed to support public health” on the site of Vinik's much-anticipated Channelside project. So, instead of a neighborhood whose nearest sustenance is a cluster of themed chain restaurants a five-minute drive away, residents could find whatever they need within walking distance, and we'll all be better off. Hmmm…sounds like something a secret global cabal of energy conglomerates would try to crush.

Speaking of sensible prominent politicians from the nineties, former Vice President Al Gore was in South Florida Wednesday for a climate conference, where he chided the state legislature for not doing anything about climate change. He may as well yell at the ocean for being so rise-y; there's a better chance sea god Neptune would materialize and straighten things out than the legislature lifting a finger on the problem.

While we're on the topic of stormy seas, Tropical Storm Joaquin was upgraded to a hurricane. It's not really a threat to Florida — not our coast, anyway — but let's hope it peters out before it hits New Jersey. We have summer vacay plans on LBI next year and would rather not be inconvenienced as we were in the wake of Sandy.

And finally, Gov. Rick Scott's cabinet all voted against him on a $4 million deal to protect ranch land in the middle of the state; Kilbee Ranch, one of Florida's oldest still-standing ranches. The conservation easement on 1,300-acre swath is in accordance with the dying wishes of ranch founder E.H. Kilbee himself. The once-12,000-acre ranch is now surrounded by dense development, but itself will now be protected from ruin. Florida cabinet, we'd like to talk to you 'bout some other stuffs you could mebbe also defy him on, pretty please?

This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2015.