Community

Oysterponds: John’s Place at St. Agnes hosts open house Oct. 29-30

When I called the school to ask what day the Oysterponds Halloween parade would be held, I chuckled when Ann Hulsmann said, “Halloween.” Duh. Perhaps a similar silly question, like who’s buried in Grant’s tomb? Or, these days, does the Pope tweet? So grab the cameras and head to your favorite viewing spot along the route. The parade starts at the school at 2 p.m., crosses Main Road at the buttonwood tree, follows Village Lane to Orchard, then heads east to Tabor and back to the school. I hear Prince William and Kate Middleton are among the top costumes this year, and if you have an old Big Bird costume gathering mothballs, you can use a glue gun to replace the eyes, add some eyebrows and make it an “angry bird.” This event is always one of the year’s most anticipated, so don’t be late.

On Friday night, Oct. 28, the folks at the Methodist Church invite you to their fellowship supper at 6 p.m. Bring a dish to share, wear your costumes and join in the fun. For details call lay minister Geoff Proud at 323-3523.

Speaking of churches, fellowship, community efforts, etc., John’s Place at St. Agnes, one of two homeless shelters under the auspices of Mercy Haven, will host an open house this weekend, where you can see the warm and welcoming environment they create for their homeless guests. Stop by Saturday, Oct. 29, 5-6 p.m. or Sunday, Oct. 30, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The shelter, named for philanthropist John Bendick, is administered by our own Oysterponds angels, Noreen Bischoff, Jane Winsch, Kathy Smith and Barbara Cervone. When the census increases OCC rises to the cause and opens the church to house the overflow. Pastor Ann Van Cleef can use help and donations for Tuesday nights in the colder winter months.

The William Steeple Davis House has given shelter and creative respite to many emerging artists over more than three decades. 2009-11 artist-in-residence Annie Wildey has moved on to Mystic, Conn., with a studio in Stonington. Painter Frank Cirillo became the 2011-12 artist-in-residence last week. Make sure you give him the normal Orient warm welcome.

If you attended Alexandria Le’s piano concert on Sept. 16, you might be interested to know that she was one of three winners of the Pro Musica International Music Competition, which took place the week after her concert. This gives her the opportunity to perform in Weill Hall and several other prestigious global venues. Don’t miss the chance to hear her again on Dec. 17 at Poquatuck Hall.

After my throw-out question last week about the mature man in black scooting around town on a red motorized vehicle, folks told me it was Ted Webb. I received an email from Ted sharing that since it was this time of year, and considering the black attire, it must be the headless horseman.

So as Halloween approaches, watch out for the headless horseman, excited children trick-or-treating (Village Lane residents should expect kids from the Congregational Church collecting for Unicef on Sunday after 10:30 a.m.), ghosts and goblins and, especially, suicidal deer. Last Thursday morning I counted three dead deer on the side of the road in a 10-mile stretch. My next throw-out question here, has anyone hit a deer even with deer whistles on the bumper? We all hear conflicting reports.