Mecate Mexican Restaurant opening soon

5 Nov
Abby, Omar and Fabricio with their mascots, Eva and Bruno

There’s a new Mexican restaurant in town, opening up any day now near BayTowne Plaza. And if the words “Mexican restaurant” aren’t enough to get you over there to check it out, perhaps these words will:

Tequila flights.

Tequila flights will be just one of the brand new drink menu items featured when the new Mecate Mexican Restaurant opens at 1998 Empire Blvd., in the former Fire Crust Pizza location along the Brandt Point Dr. entrance road to BayTowne Plaza.

This is the third Mecate location for co-owners Omar Garcia, Abby Ramirez and Fabricio Palma. They opened their first location in Henrietta in October of 2022, and their second in Macedon only three months later. Soon after that they decided they wanted to expand again, and jumped on the chance to come to Webster/Penfield when the old Fire Crust Pizza location became available.

Transforming the space from a pizza joint to a full-service restaurant hasn’t been too difficult.

“It was a good thing it was an existing restaurant,” Omar said. “We had to do some mostly non-structural finishes, and put in a lot of our touches to make it look a little classy,” like moving in their signature furniture, painting, and adding some distinctly Mexican features like tile work and Aztec calendars. The heaviest lift was expanding the seating area at the back of the restaurant into what used to be a big office, and building a bar. The restaurant is now spacious enough to comfortably seat 150 patrons at the tables, booths, bar and the seasonal outdoor patio.

If you’re already familiar with either of the two other Mecate locations, you’ll be pleased to know you’ll find all of your Mexican meal favorites here as well — fajitas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, desserts and more. But opening a new location has provided an opportunity to try some new things, especially on the drink menu.

Like the tequila flights. And mezcal flights. And a new spicy Margarita made with ghost tequila and rimmed with black salt. “It’s got a little bit of a kick to it,” Omar said, “but at the same time it’s got the kick where you want more.”

And what exactly does “Mecate” mean? It’s a question asked so often, they printed the answer right on the front of their menu: “Mecate is a rope made of hair or maguey fibre commonly used for tying horses.” They chose it in a brainstorming session one night before opening their first location, landing on it because it’s pretty simple and easy to say. Even if no one knows what it means.

Omar, Abby and Fabricio all live in the Canandaigua/Macedon area, where they’ve become well known in their communities. And even though this is their third location in just over two years, “We don’t consider ourselves a chain,” Omar said. “We run our own locations, we’re still involved.” And as they continue to grow, they hope to become more involved in the Webster/Penfield community as well, supporting fundraisers and local businesses.

Because they know what it’s like to start from scratch.

“We came from nothing,” Omar said. “We’re immigrants that came to this country with nothing and are just building our way.”

Mecate Mexican Restaurant is opening this week or next (TBA) at 1998 Empire Blvd., adjacent to BayTowne Plaza. More information to come, but in the meantime, click here for the Henrietta/Macedon stores’ website and here for the Facebook page.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 11/5/2024)

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I didn’t do it!

4 Nov

I witnessed a murder the other night.

Well, to be honest, I didn’t actually see it happen. But I DID see Webster Public Library Director Adam Traub stagger into the library lobby and collapse, only to rise again and lurch offstage to actually “die.”

That’s how the Webster Public Library’s first-ever Murder Mystery Dinner began. The 1920s-themed event was held Sunday night, attended by about 100 murder-mystery enthusiasts dressed in their glitziest Jazz Age finery.

For the next few hours after the shocking murder, the assembled diners carefully listened to the detectives who rushed to the scene of the crime, collected clues, and tried to figure out whodunit. It wasn’t me, but I was honored to have been asked to play a small part in the production. I sat next to two actors who were playing a young couple, and my job was to deflect anyone who started suspecting them TOO much, and (as the director put it) started “waterboarding” them.

As it turned out, they never came under suspicion and we had a nice conversation … until they got into an argument and ran offstage screaming at each other (he said something about her being too stupid to teach yoga). Then we heard a shot, a scream, and the young man stumbled back through the library with a gunshot wound.

The detectives puzzling out the clues
Audience members were regularly roped into the act

By the end of the evening, the culprit was identified and arrested (it was “Bruce Lee”), prizes were awarded, and all the actors came out of the wings, clearly uninjured.

It was SUCH a fun time. Everyone was dressed to the nines, so that it looked like we were at a fancy dinner party. Each one of us had to come up with a code name, written clearly on our name tags, and EVERYONE was a suspect. It was a very interactive event; the detectives encouraged audience participation frequently, by chanting, adding sound effects, singing, or answering pointed questions about their knowledge of the case. Perhaps a half dozen other plants were in the audience, identified as possible suspects to throw us amateur sleuths off the scent.

Library staff members did an amazing job transforming the common area into something akin to a 1920s dance hall. The table centerpieces were stunning. An actual disco ball and some very impressive decorations encircled the domed ceiling over the lobby where all the action took place. There was even a photo booth where everyone could have their glittery night on the town recorded for posterity. Mocktails were served at the dance hall “bar,” and a buffet dinner was provided by Proietti’s.

The Murder Mystery Dinner was presented by The Dinner Detective Rochester, based at the RIT Conference Center. It was funded by a grant acquired by NYS Senator Samara Brouk, with additional support from the Friends of the Webster Public Library.

Kudos to everyone involved in pulling off this great event. I hope it will NOT be the last murder at the library.

Here’s a slideshow with lots more photos from the evening:

  • The detectives on the case compare notes
  • “Link” in slow-motion death throes. The fellow in back is providing slow motion sound effects.
  • Interrogating a suspect pulled from the audience.
  • Webster Library Director Adam Traub. Not really dead.
  • The “bar”
  • So many creative outfits!
  • Signing in and figuring out code names for the name tags

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 11/4/2024)

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Veterans honored at the Webster Museum

3 Nov

A special program and new exhibit at the Webster Museum honor and give thanks to those who fought in the Vietnam War.

On Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m., Charles Klauck, a Vietnam veteran and President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20 will tell his story. Plus, attendees will also hear from the Schraders, who met because of the Vietnam War. Nguyen Schroeder escaped by jumping on a ship as it was leaving the Vietnam harbor. They will tell their fascinating love story. Other veterans are welcome and encouraged to attend the presentation to share their personal stories of the war and their service.

The program is free (donations are always appreciated) and refreshments will be served. The museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster and is handicap accessible.

While you’re there for the presentation (or anytime this month), make sure to check out the new Vietnam War exhibit tucked into the “toy corner.” It features two uniforms actually worn during the war. The one on the left was worn by Spencer Radnich from the US Army, and on the right, the US Air Force uniform worn by Ron Gentle. The patches are from Vietnam veteran Michael Geisler.

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. You can find out more at their website here and Facebook page here. The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. 
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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 11/3/2024)

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Yarn artists needed!

1 Nov

You’ve read before here in my blog about the terrific community collaboration among Webster Community Chest, Webster Hope and Gathering Place Webster.

Their goal is to hold a food distribution event four times a year: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and sometime during the summer. With the community’s support, these regular distributions will really help our Webster neighbors who face food insecurity every day.

The agencies are gearing up right now for their upcoming holiday season distributions, and they’d like to include a few extra helpful items in addition to the seasonal meal items.  

Among those items are hand-crafted cotton washcloths. Tracy Dennis from Webster Community Chest explained,

When the pandemic first hit, paper towels were hard to come by so my Mom and I started making these washcloths to use instead of paper towels: to wipe the counters, etc.  They work great, are washable and are super easy to make!  This seemed like a perfect addition to our distributions and the local yarn artists have taken on the challenge.

The first call to crafters went out a few weeks ago, and the yarn artists have come through big time. Tracy says they’re calling them the “Webster Yarn Artist Army,” and if you like to knit or crochet, you are officially invited to join them.

The washcloths are really easy to make (see some instructions and tips below). And what a great way to put a personal, homemade touch in the meal packages.

The coalition will be collecting the washcloths year-round and hope to include them in every food distribution they organize, so they can never have too many! You can drop off your creations at Webster Hope during open hours, or in the donation drops at the Webster Public Library for both Webster Hope and Webster Community Chest. Or you can email Webster Community Chest at webcommchest@gmail.com or call them at 585-671-2060 to arrange for pick up or drop off.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/31/2024)

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Some quick updates about recent events

31 Oct

I received a couple of emails in the last few weeks with good news about two recent fundraising events.

The first was from Kevin Finn, who every year organizes the Beer Walk for the Village of Webster. This year’s walk was held on Saturday Oct. 19, and Kevin reports that the weather was perfect.

The event completely sold out its 200 available tickets. Participants strolled through the village, stopping at six businesses:

  • The Coach Sports Bar (where walkers picked up their wrist bands and glasses)
  • Jojo Bistro and Wine Bar
  • Finn’s Automotive (where Mayer’s Cider Mill sampled their hard ciders)
  • Roc Style Chicken and Burger
  • BC’s Chicken Coop
  • Lattimore Physical Therapy, where Rising Storm offered their locally-brewed beer

The event raised $3,300 for future Webster Business Improvement District events. A portion was also donated to the Harmony House to help fund their renovations.

The next day, I got this great news from the Webster Public Library’s annual Fall Book Sale, held Oct. 16 through 19: just through sales of $1 hardcover books and 50 cent paperbacks (plus $5 bags at the bag sale), the event managed to raise more than $6,000. The Kittelberger flower cards which were also being offered for sale were also a big hit; 200 of them were sold.

All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Webster Public Library.

On a side note, I’ve also been told that a very good friend of the library — whom I only know as “Ted” — took it upon himself after the sale to rearrange the book sale area. He managed to more than double the available shelf space for both books and digital materials.

So next time you’re at the library, check out the newly organized space, which is just to the left as you come in the front door. Remember, even though the big Fall Book Sale is over, the book sale area is open all the time, and the prices are great.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/31/2024)

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Webster community mailbag

30 Oct

Lots of great events happening in November, so grab your calendar, because you’re gonna want to make some notes.

The next Family Scavenger Hunt is scheduled for this Saturday Nov. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve.

Participants will explore the park on a well-marked trail, completing a fun scavenger hunt along the way. Three different skill levels will be available for kids aged 2 to 12, so children of all ages can participate. Everyone who completes the hike can choose an autumn-themed prize.

Cost is $5 per child, and please preregister at the Webster Recreation Center website (look for program 301205-A). You can pay when you get to the hike. Sign in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The hunt will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather.

This hike is sponsored by the Webster Recreation Center in collaboration with the Friends of Webster Trails and WHEN, the Webster Health and Education Network. All proceeds will benefit the Friends.

Craft sale will benefit WSPS

A large variety of one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, lovingly made by local crafters, will be for sale at the Webster Arts and Crafts Sale on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. 

Everything for sale is designed and handmade by the roughly 30 talented artisans who are taking part in the event, which this year will be held in the recreation center’s gym. There’s always something unique and special to find at the sale for people of all ages. Parking and entry are free.   

The sale is a fundraiser for WSPS, the Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters, a non-profit organization made up of 65 drivers who volunteer their time to get Webster seniors and the disabled to their appointments, including the doctor, dentist, hair stylist and the bank. By sponsoring events like the Webster Arts and Crafts Sale, WSPS is able to provide the low-cost rides and fund its dispatchers and office expenses. WSPS is a lifeline for many people who no longer drive and would not be able to afford other forms of transportation. 

Walk/Bike Webster event scheduled

If you’re a fan of getting around Webster on two feet or two wheels, or are interested in helping brainstorm ideas to improve walking and biking opportunities in Webster, then this next event is for you.

On Monday Nov. 4, from 6 to 7:45 p.m. there will be a Walk and Bike Webster event held in the Community Room at the Webster Public Library.

The purpose of the event is to start a conversation about getting around town without a car. The hope is to gather like-minded folks who want to work together to advocate for better walking, biking, and/or bus riding conditions within Webster.

The meeting will begin with a quick meet and greet at 6 p.m., followed by the film “Why We Bike,” created by Reconnect Rochester. Webster Town Council member Ginny Nguyen and Matthew Isles from Walk/Bike Irondequoit will then lead a panel discussion. Nguyen will talk about how the Town of Webster is promoting safe walking and biking, and Isles will talk about what Walk/Bike Irondequoit is doing.

There will also be a survey available for attendees to fill out, relaying their concerns to town officials. If you can’t make the meeting but would like to take the survey, click here.

To find out more about this event, visit the Facebook event page here.

What’s happening at the library?

As usual, the Webster Public Library has a whole schedule of entertaining activities coming up next month, designed for the whole family.

I pulled out this first one for special attention because it sounds very interesting. It’s called “Rethinking Thanksgiving — A Native American Perspective on an American Holiday.”

The library writes,

this lively, content-based presentation will give an overview of the history of this very misunderstood holiday. Participants will learn accurate and culturally appropriate information about the English settlers at Plymouth and the Wampanoag, the Native people who inhabited that area. We will discuss the actual events of 1621 in Plymouth, the relationship between the English settlers and the Wampanoag, and how this story became the holiday we know today. Participants will learn how Native People, particularly the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), view the concept of “Thanksgiving.”

The program will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. Registration is required. Click here to do so.

Here’s a quick look at some of the other programs coming up this month. For more information, check out the event section of the Webster Public Library website.

  • The Friends of the Webster Public Library’s annual hat sale is going on now. Adult hats start at $8, children’s hats at $4.
  • A Vintage Book Sale will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prices start at $8.
  • This month’s community collections are cookbooks and recipes, and the Keeping our Promise donation station.

For adults:

For the family:

  • Family Fun Night: STEAM, building creative structures. Monday Nov. 25, 6 to 7 p.m. No registration required.
  • Drop-In Board Game & Puzzle Day, Tuesday Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. No registration required.

For teens and tweens:

Women’s Club of Webster November meeting

The November luncheon meeting of the Women’s Club of Webster will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Penfield Country Club, 1784 Jackson Rd. This month’s speaker will be Evan Schutt from Schutt’s Apple Mill and Country Store.

Schutt’s has been a part of the local community since it first opened its doors in 1918 by Paul “Great Grandpa” Schutt. For more than 100 years, each generation has loved bringing us its delicious apples, sweet cider, and fried cakes. Evan will talk about his history of farming, tradition, family, and the mill.

The luncheon begins with a social mix-and-mingle at 11:15 a.m., brief meeting at 12:00 noon and lunch at 12:30 p.m. followed by Evan’s presentation. Cost for the luncheon is $22, with a choice of turkey melt, corned beef Reuben or apple salad. All choices include fresh fruit.

Send a check made out to WCW by November 14 to Carolyn Rittenhouse, 405 County Line Road, Ontario, NY 14519. Late registrations cannot be accepted this month. If you have questions or you think your check will be late, phone Carolyn at 585-265-1303. 

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/30/2024)

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Webster Marching Band is #1 in the state … again!

29 Oct

This is why they’re called the Pride of Webster.

Last Sunday, our very own Webster Marching Band blew away the competition at this year’s state championships, held at the Dome in Syracuse, earning the title of New York State Champion in the Large School 2 (LS2) class. And they did it in impressive fashion, smashing a 20-year old scoring record.

The band competed in the LS2 class against eight other schools from all over the state. At the end of the day, only 8.6 points separated the nine schools. But Webster stood alone at the top, with 92.1 points, almost two full points ahead of second-place Kingston. It was the highest score recorded in the last 20 years for LS2.

This year’s show, with music written by David Hamilton, is called “Death of Star.” Band parent Michelle Lowe described it for me:

It takes you on a captivating journey through a star’s life cycle, from its brilliant beginnings to its transformation into a black hole. The show opens with vibrant music and colors, representing a massive star in its prime, radiating energy and life. As the star expands into a red giant, its fiery red and orange glow creates a stunning view that dominates the night sky.

As time passes, the star’s core becomes unstable, reflecting its exhaustion as it depletes fuel. Our ballad in the second movement represents the outer layers drifting away into space due to powerful winds and planetary nebulae. Eventually the star’s core collapses, resulting in a supernova explosion that marks the end of its life.

The final movement is chaotic and intense, depicting the star’s explosive end and subsequent collapse into a black hole. The music shifts to a darker tone as the core crumbles and condenses, creating an event from which nothing can escape. The field transforms into a swirling vortex, echoing the fiery chaos of our star’s ultimate sacrifice and transformation into a black hole.

Wow. Just wow. I wish I had seen it. No wonder the judges were impressed.

This is the band’s third state title, also winning in 1989 and 2021. In 2021, with a score of 90.8, their show “Unbroken” also beat out eight other schools, and marked the first time they achieved more than 90 points. This year’s score was even higher.

The Webster Marching Band is made up of 72 student musicians and performers drawn from all four Webster secondary schools: Spry Middle School, Willink Middle School, Webster Schroeder High School and Webster Thomas High School. Each band season begins with extensive training in the spring, followed by parade season, summer show season, fall competition season, band camps, weekly rehearsals and an eight-week competitive season. It’s a grueling schedule, and it’s great to see that all the hard work these musicians put in this year was so richly rewarded.

The band was welcomed home Sunday evening by cheering crowds and a fire department escort.

Congratulations to the all of the Webster Marching Band musicians and performers. Your hard work payed off big time. You truly do make Webster proud.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/29/2024)

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Have you SEEN the Mary Wee?

28 Oct

If you happened to be in the Village of Webster during Saturday’s Trick or Treat Trail, then perhaps you were one of the lucky ones to get a not-so-sneak-peek at the new Mary Wee Pub opening at 2 West Main in the old Barry’s Old School Irish space.

Owner Mark Petzing was there with some family and friends handing out candy and giving tours of the almost completed pub. I’ve posted a few blogs in the last few months chronicling Mark’s progress, but I haven’t been in there in more than three weeks, so I made sure to stop in and see where things stand.

I was blown away by how much has been accomplished in those last three weeks.

Granted, the floor still needs to be finished and the kitchen is still in disarray. But the indoor bar is looking beautiful, the spacious indoor/outdoor bar is ready for pints, the jukebox has been installed, and there are a few special touches that people are really going to love, like how the restroom door looks like an Irish telephone booth and the ceiling is emblazoned with the symbols from Ireland’s four provinces.

Best of all, Mark says all the final touches should be completed within a few weeks. So watch for news of a grand opening, hopefully sometime before the end of November.

Here are a few more photos:

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/27/2024)

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New elements made this year’s Pumpkins on Parade even better

27 Oct

Kudos to the Webster Recreation Center for pulling off yet another successful Pumpkins on Parade festival, held Saturday night.

I’ve been attending this event every year since it began in 2020, and it gets better every year. I called it a “festival” above on purpose, because that’s really what it feels like when you emerge from the pumpkin path into the Rec Center’s big sports fields and see thousands of people playing games, enjoying the free snacks, and taking family photos.

What makes this event especially entertaining is how the Rec Center keeps changing it up, adding new elements every year. This year they got particularly creative. Ghostly displays were set up in several areas along the path. A real live witch, complete with a bubbling cauldron, swept back and forth through her witchy lair, cackling and berating anyone who dared to walk by (which was everyone). And the guys from the Parks Dept. came up with a really fun idea: they enclosed the pavilion at First Responders Park and turned it into a not-so-scary haunted house.

After leaving there, paraders followed the pumpkin path into the great fields, where even more fun awaited. There was a hay bale maze for the kids, a bonfire, pumpkin tic-tac-toe, a roller slide for the kids, bowling, family photo areas, and of course free cider, apples and donuts.

Recreation Director Katie Kovar estimated that between the path and displays, there were almost 800 jack-o’-lanterns this year, so thank you to everyone who carved one or more (and to the Rec Center staff members who carved hundreds of their own). The weather was perfect, bringing out thousands of adults and kids to enjoy this family event.

I’m already looking forward to next year to see what the Rec Center will cook up.

Click here to see my gallery of photos.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/28/2024)

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Photos from the Trick or Treat Trail

26 Oct

What a spectacular autumn day we had Saturday for the Village of Webster’s annual Trick or Treat Trail. The gorgeous sunshine and not-too-hot, not-too-cold temperatures brought thousands of adults and children to the streets of the village. I think our small business owners enjoyed the day as much as the kids, although some of the first-time participants were a bit unprepared for the number of trick or treaters that would come by.

I spent a few hours walking around taking photos. Perhaps you and your kids are in one of them! Click here to see the whole gallery.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/26/2024)

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