Letter from the editor
Ah, the sweet sights and smells of Fall. It’s mid-October, which means the pumpkin lattes are flowing in abundance, the mums are bursting with beautiful hues of fall colors, and ripe pumpkins adorn every doorstep. For us Autumn lovers, this is the time of year that we live for. Halloween decorations have popped up throughout our neighborhoods, setting the mood for the weeks ahead.
There is nothing cozier than slipping into a favorite hoodie with a hot cup of tea on a crisp Autumn evening. These are the days of fuzzy socks, warm blankets, and fireplaces ready to warm our toes and our spirits.
From fall festivals and corn mazes to the thrill of haunted hayrides like the local favorite, Terror in the Junkyard, October offers a rush of excitement and new beginnings. The dead leaves fall to the ground, leaving behind the weight of a long year and preparing us for the cooler months ahead.
I still remember the last time I dressed up for Halloween as a kid. I was about 12-years-old and I borrowed my grandmother’s lab jacket to compliment my mad scientist costume. After parading through the neighborhood with my friends, I carefully hid my loot so my older brothers wouldn’t steal it. Turns out my dog found my hidden treasure and I was one disappointed trick or treater! Fortunately, my dog was fine! Turns out, she enjoyed tearing it all apart more than actually eating it. (Chocolate can make dogs very ill.)
Many years later, as young parents, Bob and I took our three little ones trick or treating. We dressed our “Irish triplets” (a set of twins and our son, 19 months apart) as dalmations and transformed their wagon into a firetruck. They were so small at the time, I’m not sure how much they enjoyed it, but Bob and I sure did! Of course, the best part was eating all of their candy! We stayed up late that night watching scary movies while munching on KitKats and Tootsie rolls, rationalizing our indulgent behavior with the fact that all this sugar would not be healthy for the kids. It was our duty to consume it before they did. I have to admit, it was one of my favorite responsibilities!
So many Halloween parties, parades, trips to the pumpkin patch and Halloween nights have come and gone since then.
The memories become our treasures. What are your favorite Halloween or Autumn memories?
In recent years, we look forward to handing out candy and putting our dogs in costumes with hopes of capturing a cute photo. Cali is our happy-go-lucky golden retriever and Coco is a rescue dog that looks similar to a black lab. Last year they donned matching Super-dog costumes. Of course, the younger one tried to pull the other around by her cape resulting in some wardrobe malfunctions.
Remember last year when there was no vaccine available and in many ways, Halloween was canceled, or at the least, very restricted. Thank goodness, Halloween is back in full swing this year! Check out all the Fall Fun and Halloween Happenings in our area on page 10- 14. There is something exciting and fun for every age and interest.
New this year, and sure to be a phenomenal event is Showboat’s Halloween Costume Party, set to be the largest on the East Coast! Read more about it on page 39. Another fun and interesting October delight is looking into the paranormal, perhaps even going on a ghost walk. Read “Haunted Legends of South Jersey” on page 40.
Thank you for picking up this issue of Shore Local Newsmagazine. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Autumn!
Peace & Love,
Cindy
