Rain on Halloween didn't dampen enthusiasm for canvassing

by Dan McClelland

For local children out Thursday afternoon trick or treating at the chamber's annual Park Street event or that evening canvassing the houses in the community, it was probably the wettest Halloween on record.

Heavy rain and strong winds began about 3 p.m. just as the chamber's annual event began but despite the soggy weather throngs of children roamed the uptown business district.

The young participants and their parents got a thorough and repeated soaking as they moved between the Park St. businesses. The rain and wind didn't seem to dampen the smiles, however.

Despite the heavy rain, this year's event on Park St. drew a big crowd- maybe the biggest in years.

We heard from many parents this week that many of the their cold and wet youngsters opted to leave before the official close of canvassing at 5p.m.

Fortunately the winds that afternoon were relatively mild in nature.

As the rain and strong winds continued into the evening, the numbers of youngsters out on the street were minimal. Consequently, in usually high-canvassed sections of the village, there was plenty of Halloween loot not distributed. Many residents said they saw only a tiny fraction of the costumed kids who normally come to their doors each year.