Shady Pines Story Town Gets Gussied Up for Halloween and Falls Back
Scaring Up Some Fun
The scary season approaches as the autumn glow of October dims.
The sun sets a little earlier each evening in Shady Pines Story Town and the shadows grow longer.
Leaves on the trees cling to the last gasp of fall colors. They rustle in the cool, gentle wind and float to the ground.
Children jump in and play with the piles of fallen leaves.
Change is on the way. Can you feel it?
As that spooky holiday draws near, it’s just about time to change our clocks back an hour.
First Things First
Halloween is next Thursday, the 31st. This holiday is a really big deal around these parts. Neighbors in our small Southern town decorate the front and back of their houses. And you never know who you’ll see just drop by the local library. 
Over yonder, not far from downtown, is the cozy home of the Sanders’ family on Dogwood Drive across from Copy Cat Lane. 
Right now, Edna Sanders is tidying up the family’s den.
She throws out old magazines, plumps the pillows on the couch and dusts the table tops ’til they shine. “We’ve got to get ready for Halloween,” says Edna. “There are pumpkins to carve, recipes to bake, and costumes to select.”
Next, she vacuums the floor. “What Is That?” cries Edna, as something hard and noisy jams the wand of the vacuum cleaner causing a terrible screaching sound.
“Oh my goodness. What do you know? It’s Halley’s Mr. Squeaky,” says a relieved Edna. It’s hard to believe how many dog and cat toys I find hidden everywhere. Well, that may be enough vacuuming for now.”
Ghoulish, Glamorous or What?
Right on cue, Boomerang, the Australian Shepherd dog and Halley’s Comet, a silver streak of a cat,
wander into the room. Boomer growls at that darn machine that is always too loud for his liking.
“Oh, get over yourself,” says Halley. “You do that every time mom gets on her cleaning kick.”
“It’s not mom,” says Boomer. “I hate the grey monster with that sucking sound.”
“Look!” says Halley. “That big ol’ monster machine found Mr. Squeaky.”
“Oh, brother,” moans Boomer. “Now I’ll have to listen to you throw that thing all over the place.”
Selecting The Right Look
Edna looks up and sees both of her kids. “Oh, good. You’re here. I want to show you something. I’ve been looking up ideas for Halloween costumes for you, two. Here, let me show you.” Edna gets down on the floor.
“This first book shows ideas for cats.”
Boomer looks at Halley. “Uh-oh. Halley, did I just hear that awful word, costumes?”
Halley stares at Boomer. “Not again.”
Halley looks at the first photo and gasps. “Oh, no. I’m not wearing anything that froo-froo.”
“Halley, isn’t this get-up just precious?” asks Edna.
“Or, how about this one? It’s a little sailor’s outfit.”
Boomer starts to laugh. “Ahoy Halley. Off to sea you go!
Be quiet you overgrown furball,” hisses Halley. “No self-respecting cat would wear either of those outfits.”
Costume Ideas For Dogs
“And look at these clever ideas for you, Boom,” says Edna.
Boomer barks. “What in the world is that thing I’d be toting around on my back? No way, no how, no siree.”
Now it’s Halley who’s laughing. “I sorta like it. At least you’d finally have a friend!”
“Very funny,” says Boomer.
“Oh, and here’s another one I found,” says Edna. “You’d be the takeout delivery boy.”
“I’d like to take out an objection to this whole idea,” says Boomer.
“Should I put my order in now?” asks Halley batting her eyelashes at him.
“Halley, you’re such a pain.”
Edna pats Boomer’s head. “Why are you growling boy?”
Almost Time to Change the Clocks
Edna gets up from the floor. “Your dad should be home from work soon, guys. Harold and I will have to decide what costumes we’re going to wear. In the meantime, there’s something else that I need to do this time of year.”
Edna walks over to the fireplace where a clock sits on the mantel. Edna takes it down. She sticks a note on the clock to remind her to change the time in a couple of weeks.
“Boomer and Halley, we’ve got to remember to Fall Back! November 3rd is the end of Daylight Saving Time. That’s when we turn the clocks back an hour and get an extra hour of sleep. Are you both ready to Fall Back?”
Halley turns to Boomer. “Let’s go!”
Boomer cocks his head. “Where?”
“To the back of the house. Didn’t you hear mom? We have to fall back.”
Boomer gives Halley a challenging look. “Bet I get there first.”
“Bet you don’t!” yells Halley as she takes off.
Edna whips around. “Wait. Where are you going?”
Watch Out for Little Goblins
While Edna tries to round up Boomer and Halley, we leave you with a couple of cautionary notes. Halloween can be a fun time for kids of all ages. But make sure to watch out for the young tick or treaters who may be out at night.
You may also want to pay attention to some of those porch decorations like pumpkins with candles. Costumes and lighted candles can be a dangerous combination.
However you plan to celebrate the haunting holiday, all of us in Shady Pines Story Town hope you and yours have a howling good time this Halloween!
Fall is such a wonderful time of year in Shady Pines Story Town. Everywhere you look there’s an explosion of color. And I really like the cooler weather, don’t you?
I’m Scoop the Cub Reporter for The Shady Pines Gazette. Of course, the upcoming U.S. Presidential election is dominating the news. Even our own Boomer and Halley are gearing up for Election Day. We’ll get to that story a bit later.
adventure. And why not?
I can already see for myself that this is one place where children can discover things for themselves. That’s really important. I know I like to find those unexpected, special, moments. 
Do you see the colors of that butterfly next to the pumpkin? Being out on the farm lets you be amazed at Mother Nature. I think this kind of stuff is really cool!
I talked to a dad who told me, “From the second we arrived, my children ran off with smiles, but then, they realized how much work it was to be in a field of pumpkins. Even running took work since the vines were everywhere, waiting to trip little, toddler-sized running feet.”
A lot of kids don’t realize it takes hard work to be a farmer. One young girl I met was getting a little taste of that. Just trying to push a wheelbarrow with a big ‘ole pumpkin was something she hadn’t done 
before.
time for me to take the title back! The other reason I need to pick up some pumpkins is to inspire my mom.
This hurricane season is proving that no one is safe from natural disasters.
First Helene battered homes and businesses, and now Hurricane Milton has left destruction in its wake.
Before she can answer, there’s a piercing cat scream followed by a loud bark coming from the other room.
Harold agrees. “You’re right. In the past we’ve just been winging it.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” says Harold. “In the meantime, why don’t we both go by the Community Center today and donate to The Lantern Project?“
Okay everyone. Let’s get real. I’m Zulah Talmadge with The Shady Pines Gazette news. 
We watch homeowners knee derp in mud picking up the pieces.
Whole communities have been wiped out.
We are calling this all- hands-on-deck effort: The Lantern Project. We aim to spread light and love through our efforts and donations to people in need. 
One thing we learned right away is that we need to work with The Red Cross and other big relief organizations.
rushing into these hard hit areas and then getting stuck because of washed out roads.
we’ve got neighbors worried about friends and loved ones who live in some of the affected areas.
Because of that, Mayor Beauregard Fibbs has set up a communications center at City Hall.
Making these connections is proving to be hard to do. Crews are working round the clock to restore power and cell phone service knocked out by the storm.
While all of this is going on, Scoop, the Cub Reporter, is working with teachers and parents whose children attend The Shady Pines Elementary School.
Their goal is to round up clothes, toys, books and educational materials to be donated to kids in the flood zones who are missing those things right now.
The Lantern Project is another way we express compassion as part of our ongoing Kindness and Caring Campaign.
The shadows are longer. Football is back on TV.
Sunday, this weekend, the sun spends as much time above the hoizon as below.
For many families here in Shady Pines Story Town, 
Maybe this is a good time to see if you’ve got the right clothes for fall. Sweater weather is on its way. 
Don’t let this special time pass you by. With each new season comes another 
Here’s a fact that is hard to believe. We are marking Patriot Day 2024. It’s been 23 years since that horrible attack on our country, September 11, 2001. 
But there are many young people and children who weren’t around back then.
Planes were hijacked by bad men and flown into their targets. So many innocent people just going about their daily lives never made it home.
It seemed like a bad movie. It couldn’t be real.
And then we saw so many brave policemen, firemen, and other first responders race in to help others. Many didn’t come back alive. It was all too much to bear.
We would never feel as safe again.
As deep and painful as our wounds were, a sense of brotherhood swept over our nation in a way many of us may have never before seen in our lifetime. Above the black smoke and rubble, America still stood as a country – held together by the spirit of our people.
The thing is, these people woke up that morning just like the rest of us. They did not know what was to be asked of them in the next couple of hours. 
But, when it came time, they got up the courage needed and answered the call.
If you live near any of the
It wasn’t always that way. Let’s remind ourselves, and the children, of an important time in American history when we were united.