Greetings faithful readers!

Well, we have finally had a killer frost. The killer frost is very late this year. I can remember killer frosts in early September. The next few nights it is supposed to be 25 degrees at night. Last week I gathered my geranium pots on my front porch and covered them with some old sheets. Time to throw out the annuals, consolidate the geraniums and get them in the basement. It was ten years ago that we had that major snowstorm on the last weekend of October, the night of the Youngsville Roast Beef dinner. Time to get your snow gear out.

As many of you know, I ran for the Town of Bethel Tax Collector, and it appears as though I have won. (Last year I won a special, one-year term. This election was for the “normal” two-year term.) I understand that 148 absentee ballots were issued for the Town of Bethel. The absentee ballots will be counted next week. Thank you for your support.

So, Election Day is one of those special, unique days on the calendar year for me. For the past few years, I have been involved with the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Women’s Krispy Kreme doughnut sale at the Kenoza Lake Firehouse. This year (and in recent years) I have met the Krispy Kreme delivery man from Scranton at the Bethel post office at 6:00 am. After voting at Dr. Duggan School, I went to Kenoza Lake and sold doughnuts at the Kenoza Lake firehouse. Then I motored to White Sulphur Springs to buy New England clam chowder, but they were sold out! Back to Jeffersonville Presbyterian church, bought soup and chili there. Then, onto Lake Huntington firehouse and the barbeque at Lake Huntington. Delicious food! Excellent causes.

If you have driven along Route 17B recently, you will notice all the dead deer along the road. Last Friday, I counted five dead dear on just one side of the road, between Pucky Huddle Road and Monticello. Then, at least two more appeared on the other side of the road plus another terrible roadkill incident. That’s eight dead deer. In case you don’t know it, the annual white tail deer rut is going on. What does that mean? It means that bucks are trying to breed a doe. Yes, there are car/deer accidents throughout the year. However, the numbers spike at this time of the year. The primary rut is normally done by the opening day of rifle season, which this year is Saturday, November 20th. During the rut, the bucks have one thing on their minds, does. Meanwhile, the does are playing hard to get and are running away from bucks. If you are out there on the roads, please slow down and be alert.

EFEULLIAGE, word of the week, meaning the thinning out of leaves. The sugar maple leaves are gone. The oak trees are now various shades of gold. Japanese maple trees are now a brilliant red.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and if someone is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner, you know how much work it is! Last year I hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner and tried to make my life a little easier by ordering the desserts from the Bethel Market Café. I just got off the phone with Tara Brust, the Bethel Market Café proprietor and Bethel’s baker extraordinaire   Tara told me that Sunday, November 21st is the deadline for ordering the desserts. Last year she had apple, pumpkin, blueberry, pecan, and coconut pies as well as various cakes. The Thanksgiving menu will be posted to Facebook within the next few days. Call 845-583-3130 or stop by and place your order.

Local Establishment Shoutout. This year I attended two different special events at Hector’s Inn on Dr. Duggan Road in Bethel. This past summer I attended a Bethel Business Association Meeting and Tuesday evening, I attended the Town of Bethel Republican Committee Election Night event. Bonnie Lagoda, (Hector’s proprietor) was a joy to do business with. At both events, she prepared and displayed gorgeous cheese, fruit and raw vegetable trays and dip. (There were four, colorful whole peppers with four different dips) and numerous cheese and cracker options. My favorite was the celery filled with cream cheese and cranberries. Yum yum! The presentation of the food was spectacular. The price was reasonable. Bonnie has a large room on the side of Hector’s. There are various tables and chairs set up. A place to keep in mind when hosting a special event. Thank you Bonnie.

Mark your calendar, Full Moon on Friday, November 19th, Beaver Full Moon plus, near total lunar eclipse.

No column next week. Next column November 19th.