Excitement abounds as the town prepares for the Annual Maple Leaf Festival Saturday, Oct. 12 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Downsville Fire Hall. Vendors are packing up, food is being prepared and we’re praying for a nice autumn day to get out and visit with friends and support local organizations and craftsmen. There are a lot of interesting things that may pique your interest: face painting and crafts for the kids, a photo booth, and lots of food and items to purchase; hot dogs, salads, pies and baked goods, soup, honey, maple syrup, chocolate covered pretzels, t-shirts, jewelry, knives, crocheted items and soaps.
At 4 p.m. meander down to Corbett for the annual Trunk or Treat event with a chicken/pulled pork barbecue and fun events for kids of all ages. Proceeds go to Corbett Community Corporation.
For those of you who love estate sales, there will be one at 92 Depot Street between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Oct. 12-14, with tons of interesting items to add to your collections or to begin your holiday shopping. Lots of craft supplies, too, I think. No early birds.
The Colchester Community United Methodist Church (CCUMC) needs a new roof but that means a lot of funding which sadly, the church currently does not have. Invitations will go out by mail - help however you can and with whatever you can afford. The church started as a Presbyterian church, then merged with the United Methodist Church to become the Colchester Community Church. The church offers (free of charge) a place for worship on Sunday, a food pantry Wednesday mornings, a coffee chat time Wednesday afternoons so folks can get together and gab, AA groups meet there, a chess club meets Thursday evenings, a book club once a month and a grief support group once a month and possibly a senior citizen game day after bocce ball season is over. The church offers space for the annual baccalaureate for Downsville graduating seniors and the doors are open to all who live in the community. It is at the center of our little village, and it is a landmark worth taking care of. The community was very generous when the steeple was replaced a few years ago and when the carillon was added which everyone in town really loves. Donations can be sent to CCUMC/Roof, PO Box 305, Downsville NY 13755. The work probably won’t begin until next spring; fingers crossed God provides the funds through your generous donations.
Brian Richards is collecting used bicycles for a ministry he has supported in the past and would love any old, unused bicycles you might have by Oct. 19. Bikes can be dropped off at the CCUMC near the back side door or call Brian at 732-433-3000 to have him pick it up. Brian also leads the chess club Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. at CCUMC. The club is open to anyone who plays chess or would like to learn. All ages are welcome.
Speaking of events, remember the fall rummage sale Friday (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. - noon), Oct. 25 and 26 sponsored by the CCUMC. This fundraiser helps them to pay their bills to further their ministries in our community and beyond. The church’s annual budget runs approximately $48,000+ per year to offer a safe place in our community to serve the people of Colchester and with ever decreasing attendance in all churches, meeting the needs of the church becomes more difficult each year. The church members appreciate your help and invite all to join them if you are looking for a church family relationship. All are welcome.
We missed wishing our Jewish readers a “Shanah Tova” or Have a Good Year. Rosh Hashanah is a two-day holiday - Oct. 2 to the evening of Oct. 4. It is both joyful and serious; a celebration of creation and a time of reflection on our actions with accountability and judgment and the desire to do and be better in the coming year. Oct. 11, Yom Kippur begins at sundown and ends at Shabbat on Oct. 12. It is a day of atonement and prayer, a day of forgiveness and communal fasting. Both holidays are considered High Holy Days and “G’mar chatima tova” is the customary greeting on Yom Kippur. In English, it means “May you be sealed in the Book of Life.” According to Jewish tradition, one’s fate is decided on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur. It seems a good time to reflect on one’s relationship with their higher power and their neighbors, too. Forgiving others and asking for forgiveness for the wrongs we have done is a good way to end the year and begin anew.
Upcoming is the Colchester Chamber of Commerce 10K raffle (formerly known as the “car party”) Nov. 10 at The Schoolhouse Inn from 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $125 each which entitles you to two admissions to the cocktail reception. Get tickets at The Schoolhouse Inn, Gladstone Insurance, Fisk Tax Office, Sonny & Sons, Downsville Diner and Deno’s Hair Salon. Only 325 tickets are available so be sure to get them before they are gone.
Enjoy the week ahead and support your local businesses and organizations. Peace.
