October 5 - October and its chilly weather is now upon us. Its time to harvest the last of the stragglers of produce in our gardens and then the cleanup of the beds begins which is the very first step for next years garden.

All around us Octoberfest events are happening and between you and me I’m not feeling really optimistic about a bonanza of fall foliage colors which is supposed to be at peak in about two weeks. 

A friend who traveled far up north recently told me the leaves seemed dry and rusty looking which is maybe because of all the rain we had recently. I hope he is wrong because after all this Covid mishigas we need to be surrounded by some brilliant colors to soothe our collective nerves.

In addition to being Breast Cancer Awareness, National Economic Education, Adopt a Dog, as well as National Pickled Peppers, National Toilet Tank Repair and Bat Appreciation Month- for most of us October is all about Halloween. 

On that front I have some bad and good news for all Halloweener’s. The bad news is that because of the Covid resurgence the Barryville Chamber of Commerce’s very popular Pumpkin Fest has been cancelled. The good news Circle Park in Lumberland will be holding a Trunk and Treat Halloween Event at the Park sponsored by the Lumberland Fire Department and the Town of Lumberland Parks.

The Trunk and Treat will take place on Saturday, October 30th from 3-4:00pm -a rain date of October 31st in the parking lot of the Lumberland Senior Center located next to the park. Circle Park is located at 1025 Proctor Road in Glen Spey or call 845-856-8600 X-1210.  Save the Date!

The Barryville Farmers Market is sponsoring a Halloween Event on Saturday October 23rd- which is the last Farmers Market of the season. According to John Pizzolato, the President of the Barryville Farmers Market the Market’s Halloween event is geared for all the kiddos having a really great time.

According to Mr. Pizzolato there will be costume contests, a parade for your pets and for the children. Since it’s a food related Market, there will be a Bake-off contest and a trunk and treats as well as a standard trick or treating with local businesses. The Market will feature live music, warm cider, cookies, and candy.

Since it will be the last Farmers Market of the season make sure you stop in and join in thanking all the wonderful Market’s staff, volunteers and vendors who have helped make this season so successful and bring all the kiddos to participate in the special Halloween event.

Our thanks to John Pizzolato and the Barryville Farmers Market for stepping in and pulling together a fun event for the children in town who have missed out on so much due to the pandemic. There will be more details available shortly so check out the Barryville Farmers Market Facebook page for additional information as it develops.

Congratulations are in order once again to Lou Monteleone. Last month during his “scaled back due to Covid” annual St Baldricks fundraiser and the Line of Hope Across America Lou raised an astounding $10,450.00 for worldwide pediatric cancer research-all while working full time running three businesses.

Over the last ten years Lou has raised nearly $185,000 for St Baldricks and his generosity has touched many lives-including an amazing young twelve-year-old girl known to all of us as Izzy. There was recent good news from Team Izzy (Isabella Giglio of Yulan) that Izzy is now cancer free with no evidence of disease. #fightlikeakid. Our brave Warrior Princess has prevailed!