Missing Sodus
By Melissa White
mgoodcooke@yahoo.com  

The leaves are beginning to change, and are so pretty. I miss the days of the kids jumping in the leaves. It's fun to watch other little ones playing in the leaves (and don't forget leaf rubbings). Soon, everyone will go on the wagon rides and pick out the perfect pumpkins. Isn't Halloween fun?

From Debra Ross:

I wanted to alert you to the fact that we now have a fantastic Halloween page up on the www.KidsOutAndAbout.com web site by clicking here or just by clicking on the appropriate link on the left navigation bar of KidsOutAndAbout.com. As of this writing, there are 26 activities listed; please let me know if you know of others and I'll post them right away.

Just in Time for Halloween - Creepy Crawly Critters Family Fun Night!

Sign up for an exciting Family Fun Night presentation, sponsored by Family First Federal Credit Union. Seneca Park Zoo Society educators will amaze you and your family on October 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Monroe County's Seneca Park Zoo. Creepy Crawly Critters offers you and your family a chance to meet with spiders, snakes and other spooky creatures while learning why they are an important part of the environment. The evening includes dinner and beverages, fun activities, and cool animals to round out this exciting educational experience for the whole family. Zoo members pay just $6.25 per person and non-members pay $ 8.75 per person. Hurry, reservations must be made by October 18. Seneca Park Zoo society reserves the right to cancel this program if the minimum number of registrations is not met.

Fun Halloween news from Long Acre Farms Event Itinerary and Activities: Help celebrate the harvest with tons of pumpkins, apples, gourds, plus fall decorations, displays, and demos everywhere. Activities include: Pumpkin Land, Mini Mazes, Courtyard Fun, plus Hayrides ($), Maze ($), and Back 40 ($). Long Acre Grill open 11 to 5. October 16 - 17: Pumpkin Painting and Carving; October 23 - 24: Building Pumpkin Displays; October 30 - 31: Halloween Sales; October 31 ONLY: Trick or Treat in the Maze. Costumed guests get discounts and treats.

News from Ralph and Betty (The 'Florida Report'):

Well, we left on Tuesday the 5th of October about 7 a.m. We were planning on spending 3 days and 2 nights on the road, but we reached Rocky Mount, NC the first night about 6 p.m. so we decided to do it in 2 days. Left Rocky Mount at 5:30 a.m. and arrived home at about 4:45 p.m. We lucked out on the weather and traffic, so that is why we made in 2 days. Traffic was not too bad and we only had rain for about 5 minutes when we were going thru Ocala, Fl.

We saw some effects of the hurricanes on the way down. After we reached Florida we saw where a couple of roofs had blown off and there were trees that were down. The biggest damage we saw was to the big billboards by the roadside. There were some of them that were blown down and a lot of them with a great deal of damage.

Our condo had no damage to it whatsoever. I guess we lucked out again. In our condo complex about the only damage I can see is that some of the soffit under the eaves has blown down. Did not see any other major damage. They still have the windows on the Club House boarded up. I guess waiting for the next one, which I hope doesn't show up. Spent the last two days getting mail transferred, paper restarted etc. Also did a lot of grocery shopping so we would have something in the house to eat. The weather since we got here has been in the high 80s, a little windy, but no rain. Did see several places where the water is high on the way here.'

Thanks, Ralph. I'm glad you guys made it to your place in Florida safe and sound and with little damage.

At the Apple Shed:

The HAUNTED Barn. The Apple Shed has blown-up the fright-o-meter and tipped over the scary scales. Mark and Jeff Loveless, the talented scene designers and costume specialists have conjured up more evil works of genius. Don't worry, for those who are too scared, the barn offers a tour for the timid.

The barn is open weekends throughout October, RAIN or SHINE! Saturday & Sunday: Noon to 5; 12 & Under: $2; 13 & Over: $4.

For extended scaring hours, visit The HAUNTED Barn on Fright Night, every Saturday in October from 8 to 10. The cost is $4 per person.

If you would like to come as a group and include a hayride (not haunted) and refreshments on a Saturday evening, call 315.331.6294 for reservations and pricing.

Pumpkin Bars
Yields 12 pieces

3/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup canned pumpkin or make your own
1/4 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup nuts

In a bowl, beat eggs and sugar. Add oil and mix until combined. Then add the dry sifted ingredients together with the pumpkin and nuts. Pour in 1/4 sheet (13' x 9') greased baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from pan and frost, if desired. Cut into 2' x 4' squares. Enjoy...

New classes at the Kraft Shack:

• KIDS HALLOWEEN CLASS Mon., Oct. 18 - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The kids will have a fun time painting this friendly ghost complete with a trick or treat sign. $12 includes all.
• ONE STROKE PAINTING Wed., Oct. 27 - 6:30 to 9 p.m. Learn how to paint One Stroke pumpkins and leaves on a tin bucket. $30 includes all; if you have brushes, $20.

Sodus Chamber of Commerce news:

An economic development focus group meeting is scheduled for October 18, and a housing and residential neighborhood focus group meeting for November 15. A date for an agriculture and farmland protection focus group meeting has not yet been selected. The focus group meetings will be held at the Sodus Town/Village Hall (14-16 Mill Street, Sodus). The meetings will begin at 7 p.m. Sodus residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the roundtable discussions that will take place during the meetings. Resource people with extensive knowledge of and experience in each topic will also attend the meetings to share their expertise.

Don't forget the Train rides:

Saturdays and Sundays: Two departures each day from Sodus; Noon and 2:15. If you dare to go: Haunted Hayrides in Williamson. There is a full array of scary scenes and attractions including 6 major attractions and over 20 additional scenes throughout the trail. Thursdays: October 21 and 28; Fridays, October, 15, 22, 29; Saturdays, October 16, 23, 30; and Sundays, October 17 and 24. Thu. & Fri., 7-9:30 p.m.; Sat & Sun: 7-10:30 p.m. The cost will be $l5 at the gate or you can purchase tickets through Wegmans stores. Head to the DeFisher Farm. Call 585.423.2918, or 585.747.8080, or 315.589.8416.

The other night, my son went to a game at Basil Park for Homecoming and what out of town bus do you think he found at the parking lot? Sodus! Pretty neat, don't you think? Unfortunately, since the kids were busy playing, he didn't have a chance to see and talk to anyone.

Walked through a cemetery lately? There are Candlelight Cemetery Tours with Historical Re-enactments at Lakeview Cemetery, W. Lake Rd. in Pultneyville. Tours are at 7 & 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night.

Tomorrow, (October 16), there is a Chicken Barbecue at Lincoln Fire Dept., Plank Road, Ontario at 4 p.m. Adults - $7 and children - $4.

Looking for still more fun fall and Halloween events to do with the family check out www.kidsoutandabout.com/fall.html - Jacki Perrin has a lot to check out.

If you know of any fun events that are going on in Wayne County, please send them along to me so we can share ....A favorite fall recipe, party ideas, perhaps a Halloween Birthday. (Does the name Jeremy Pike ring a bell?) mgoodcooke@yahoo.com

I look forward to hearing from you. Looks like there are a lot of fun fall and Halloween things to do. Try to take time to do a few of them. Your kids are only little for a short time. (I keep thinking about how we have to really enjoy this Halloween because Michael will be off to college next Halloween. Sure he'll have fun there, but who will make the pumpkin seeds for us? Guess we'd better figure it out for ourselves.

Have a great week and always enjoy each other's company. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the column.

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