OttawaHerald.com -- Community News. Community Connections.

	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

Subscriber Services Home Delivery Gift Subscription Stop-Start Delivery Missing Paper Back Issues Newsstand Locations Shopper Locations

Advertising Services Manage Your Account Place a Classified Ad Place a Display Ad Advertise Online Business Finder Directory

Other Services Submit News Laminated Items Photos & Keepsakes Article Archives Contact Us History of the Herald Our Policies

Suggest a poll topic

2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:01 PM

WOOD: Don’t forget your head

By AMBER WOOD, What's Going On

“When the spooks have a midnight jamboree

They break it up with fiendish glee

Ghosts are bad, but the one that’s cursed,

It’s the Headless Horseman, he’s the worst.

That’s right, he’s a fright,

on Halloween night.”

I love “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” narrated and sung by Bing Crosby, especially the part with the “Headless Horseman” song.

And this weekend there will be midnight jamborees, much glee, ghosts and perhaps a headless horseman? Maybe you’ll have to make it across Ottawa’s Main Street bridge to be safe. Nonetheless frights and goblins and tricks and treats are in store. But don’t worry, you have an extra hour of fun this Saturday/Sunday night when the clocks go back an hour.

Halloween weekend is finally here. Don’t have your pumpkin yet? Be creative with your pumpkin in decorating and let the children give you ideas. It may be best if you do the carving, but they might have some ideas for the eyes, nose and mouth.

If the pumpkin is pretty tough, try cutting it with a keyhole saw. If you hate to waste the pumpkin for just a lantern, there is of course the filling for pie but you can also take the seeds out, wash them, let them dry and add a little butter or olive oil to top with salt, seasoned salt, garlic salt or any other spice you like. Then, put in the oven until they turn dark or until the desired crispness you like.

Don’t forget after Halloween night is over to pick up your display if you put anything out. We didn’t and ours got destroyed in the night, so be sure to pick up your display and put away your jack-o’-lantern. There’s nothing so sad as the young face of disappointment in the morning of seeing it smashed in the street.

Ottawa University wants everyone to know it will not have its usual Halloween Carnival this weekend. It is hoping to have the event next year.

But the children still can come to the Spook Parade 10:30 a.m. Saturday to take a trick-or-treat walk through downtown’s Main Street in Ottawa. Participating businesses will have a flyer posted in the window. The event is free and is being run by the Ottawa JayCees. Children must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older at all times and can be walking through 12 years old. The walk will start in front of the Carnegie Cultural Center, 515 S. Main St.

This weekend marks the beginning of the Terror Train Rides by the Midland Railway. Board the train in Baldwin City and take a trip on the haunted train cars. The fright level increases as the night goes on, so if you have small children you might want to take them early. The trains depart at 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale at 5:30 each night.

No advanced tickets or reservations are available. The depot is at 1515 W. High St. The train will take its last run Friday. Adults tickets are $12. For children 12 and younger, $6. Call the Midland Railway office at (913) 721-1211.

Saturday before you get your trick-or-treat on, get the pets out and about for a little fun of their own. Bring your four-legged friends at 1 p.m. to Cottonwood Animal Hospital for a costume contest. The $5 entry fee goes to benefit the Bea Martin Peck Animal Shelter. Prizes also will be awarded.

Also this weekend, Hallowesta will be at 4 p.m. in Wellsville between Fourth and Fifth streets. Costume judging will be followed by a hot dog roast at the city shop on South Main Street by the firefighters. Then feel free to trick-or-treat the town and parade those fanciful costumes. Questions: Please call (785) 883-4532.

Have a flag that’s a little tattered and torn? Well, in preparation for Veterans Day you can take your worn, torn red, white and blue banner to the Ottawa Recreation Commission at the Don Woodward Center, 517 E. Third St., Ottawa. The commission will collect them from now until the Veterans Day Celebration.

Enjoy this Halloween and remember:

“So when you’re riding home tonight,

Make for the bridge with all your might.

He’ll be down in the hollow there,

He needs your head, look out, beware!”

Amber Wood is marketing director of the Franklin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.