by Bea Peterson
Hoosick Falls was jumping Saturday, September 29. It was Pumpkinpalooza Day! The weather wasn’t perfect, and a misty rain dampened the air at times. Whatever, everyone appeared to have a good time. The events were endless and it was often difficult to decide to watch the ones in Wood Park or the ones in the Town Park. Many folks traveled from one place to the other. If they didn’t want to walk, they could take the tractor drawn hay wagon or the horse drawn wagon. Either one was fun!
[private]The day began with a pancake breakfast in the Town Park and a 5k road race that began at Wood Park. One event after another followed. There was
Punkin’ Chunkin’, a Zombie Fun Run, Laser Tag, a Pet Parade, performances by the Twirlettes, Shakti Tribal Dancers, the HFCS Jazz Band, the Hill Country Cloggers, a Chili Cookoff, K-9 demonstrations by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department and a Medieval Combat demonstration. The day ended with the fourth annual Harvest Moon Dinner. And on Sunday morning was a bike ride. Whew!!
Winners in the Chili Cookoff were People’s Choice – Matt Amphlett’s Sleepin’ Alone Tonight Chili and Judges Choice – Renne and Daniel St. Hilare’s Saints Hot Kickin’ Chili.
Kim Gorman won the $250 for finding the gnome in the Gnome Hunt. It took her just three days to find the little guy tucked in a shelf at the Library. Kim said she loves scavenger hunts!
Pet Parade winners were Funniest – Gizzmo Morse, Largest – Buddy McCart’s chocolate lab wearing a Hershey wrapper, Just Plain Weird – Betty Wills’ goat, Smallest – Honey Bow Wow Redden and Most Original – Cordelia Fauler’s goldfish.
Road Race
Overall Winners were Jim Preity with a time of 18:39 and Katie Shafer with 24:56.
Other winners were:
• 14 and Under: Tyler Gaines 20:21 and Heidi Bossoni 25:32
• 15-19: Ryan Perkins 19:10 and Adalia Villarreal 25:33
• 20-29: No Male Entry and Krista Matatt 25:45
• 30-39: Tom Kurland 21:27 and Carrie Carignan 25:37
• 40-49: Dan Morgan 23:25 and Lara Kaye 26:18
• 50-59: Art Hyde 29:44 and Laurie Hopper-George 26:43
• 60 & Over: Gary Danforth 25:13 and Eileen Taber 27:10
Punkin’ Chunkin’
The winners in the Punkin’ Chunkin’ were:
• 1st place – Hoosick Falls Siege Monkeys – Grape Shot (Logan Brogue, captain). The purple trebuchet was built by students at HFCS the first year of this event. They have never changed the design and have won more than once, always with a different team. As far as the machine goes, their motto appears to be “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’
• 2nd place – Battlefield Chuckers – Deuce (Pat Bakaitis, captain). This is a new machine for Pat. It is mounted on a WW II deuce and a half pickup truck, hence the name.
• 3rd place – Battlefield Chuckers – M1 (Pat Bakaitis, captain). Pat has won the event with this rig in the past.
• 4th place Orange Justice – Murphy’s Law (Jack Murphy, captain). This was a first time entry for the group from All Saints Church in Hoosick.
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