Ghosts, goblins and all that
What is halloween without a little bit of scary? The folks who stage the annual 2026 Brandon P. Cousino Med47 Haunted Forest in Bristol have scary down to a science. But they also combine that with a huge helping of fun, which they provided at the Route 116 attraction in Bristol this past weekend. Volunteers, crew and patrons all came together to enjoy the decorations and thoughtful, spooky performers who work hard to put together such a special event each year. And it raises money for a great cause. Photos by Karen Trayah
Spooky spectacle
Many hundreds of kids came to the Middlebury town green on Sunday morning to line up and march up and down Main Street collecting candy and other treats for the Better Middlebury Partnership’s annual Spooktacular.
Middlebury eight-year-olds EmmyLou Harlow and Anna Sacheli at Triangle Park on Sunday morning prepare themselves for an awesome responsibility. They describe themselves as “Besties!” (Like you couldn’t tell?) The 3rd-graders at Mary Hogan Elementary won a costume contest at last month’s Woofstock, the Homeward Bound fundraiser. The prize was getting to lead the Spooktacular parade, the annual costume extravaganza on the Sunday before Halloween. Nancie, the friendly witch from Sweet Cecily who has led the costume parade for a decade, said she wanted some help this year. Raising her wand, she explained, “I cast a magic spell asking for the best partners in the world to help me out and these two little girls appeared!” Photo by Liza Sacheli
Spotted at the sunny, fun-filled event were 2-year-old baby bull Sloane Perlman of Leicester; Jennifer Sumner, right, heads to the big party with her daughter Bella Mayo-McGrath, center, and friend Devvy; Nancy Malcolm and Ann LaFiandra show a different side of themselves as they staff a candy station; French mime Marigold Prentice, 8, of Middlebury busts a move; Josh Anderson and daughters Addison, Jaylinn and Monika dress for success; a tiny lion enjoys the crunchy leaves more than the candy; pint-size vampire Leo Messner, 2, of Ripton should be looking out for… the unnamed angel of death; news photographers aren’t the only ones who like photos of great costumes; and Revolutionary war general Finley LaFerriere, 10, marches right up Main Street with his mom, Jennifer Sabourin. Independent photos/Steve James and John S. McCright
