FUN TIME AT ALL THINGS PUMPKIN

By Iris Mead

MARGARETVILLE — On Sunday afternoon All Things Pumpkin turned out to be a fun-filled afternoon with a cookie and bread bake-off, the painting of over 25 pumpkins by participants young and old, a pumpkin seed spitting contest and the tasting of many pumpkin-flavored desserts. Pumpkin soup and mulled cider were served throughout the festivities. The winning bread was a cheesecake stuffed pumpkin bread made by Sharon Suess of Halcottsville and the winner of the cookie contest was 11 year old Evie Marks of Margaretville with her pumpkin snickerdoodles.

Over 100 people enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere of the Middletown History Center (HSM) outside Margaretville where they were greeted by pumpkin carving artist Drew Frano’s Jack-O-Lanterns. Attendees roamed the grounds on a beautiful Sunday and local fishing guide, Lenny Millen, helped anglers reel in fish that were then returned to the pond.

A highlight of the afternoon was the silent auction of some of the rare baskets of Karl Amor, who fled Estonia when the Russians occupied his country. He arrived in New Kingston in 1949 with his wife and daughter sponsored by the New Kingston Valley Presbyterian Church. He worked on local farms and took up basketmaking in retirement using local willow shoots, grapevines and spruce roots gathered along roadsides. Each basket was one-of-a-kind. Today his baskets are prized possessions of many locals and collectors. The HSM was gifted with some of these baskets of which 8 were put up for silent auction, earning $2,000 for HSM.

The final event of the season for HSM will be its Annual Meeting November 2 at 2 p.m. at the Middletown History Center. Noted photographer William Abranowicz will offer an illustrated talk about his career. Everyone is welcome.