Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

In what can be considered a smashing success, pumpkins, goblins, ghouls and zombies were everywhere at the St. Regis Recreation Center on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Over 100 children from toddler to teenager came dressed in their Halloween costume. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles started to arrive at 3pm and you could see they had taken time to make sure their little musketeer, bumblebee, and mad hatters were ready. The Halloween Party started with a costume parade through the center, followed by a pizza party and prizes for each age group, and then was topped off with each child being given a huge loot bag as they left the party.

Brea Cook, Shelby Thompson and Viola Thompson hold their "best" carved pumpkins.

After the Halloween Party wound down, the St. Regis Recreation Committee cleaned the hall and regrouped for the Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Contest, which was held from 5 to 7pm. Mr. Bonesteel, of Bonesteel's Garden Center and Farm Market in Bangor, NY arrived with a truckload of pumpkins ready to be carved and decorated. Mr. Bonesteel arrives each year with pumpkins, fresh apples, caramel apples, and honey along with a few other farm fresh products for sale while the Halloween revelers carved or decorated their pumpkins. Bonesteel has been taking part in the St. Regis Recreation Committees' Halloween Party for over four years and his niece often makes homemade donuts for all partygoers. Bonesteel stays for the entire event and often acts as a judge, and you can tell by the look on his face the thought that every carved or decorated pumpkin was a winner.

Entire families took part, helping younger ones carve and even carving a pumpkin themselves. The carved and decorated pumpkins were truly original; some were scary, others were wild and crazy and others had put their own original twist on a traditional Halloween pumpkin. Three prizes were given out for the top three and all prizes were of equal value. For a group of four committee members and a few volunteers it was quite a success. If you're interested in giving back to your community and participating in rewarding and fun activities by joining the St. Regis Recreation Committee, call 613 575 2700.