INSIDE SCOOP

HALLOWEENINOUR BACK YARD

I’m going to take a little different approach to Inside Scoop this month with just a mention of a very weird avor I came upon recently. If you happen to be visiting Minneapolis during Halloween, stop by Bebe Zito Ice Cream, a shop known by residents to feature some eccentric and daring scoops. Ben Spangler, co-owner of said shop, said he got the idea while watching the 1991 horror lm ‘Silence of the Lambs.’ When Hannibal said the line, ‘A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti,’ Spangler had an A-Ha moment and devised Hannibal’s Dinner – a base of sweet cream with cookie dough-like foie gras, brain, and fava bean cake mix, all topped with a drizzle of carmelized Chianti wine gastrique. Wait, WHAT?! Yes, each delectable bite will offer up a taste of salty, braised veal brain. This limited-edition Halloween avor falls in the ‘food that’s strange in the U.S. but isn’t strange elsewhere.’ Now, on to some more fun Halloween experiences… While we have given some excellent suggestions to travel Autumn roads far and wide, I’d like to point out what we like to do in our little burg of Hampton Township and its neighbor, Branchville around Halloween.

Growing up in a more suburban than rural community, and on a dead end street at that, my Halloween was a bit tempered as a little one. We went to the few houses on our block and were very happy with the candy take from that. Getting older, the candy circumference got bigger as did the take. We certainly had our share of door bell rings and there was always a dish of candy for the asking. We have been living in this area for over 20 years, and I do remember our rst Halloween. I got all set up with my stash, decorated the front of the house with mums and pumpkins and was excited to see the little tikes marching up the walkway in their costumes. Several hours of waiting and not one piece of candy given out, I learned a valuable lesson – living in rural farm land with no sidewalks or street lights did not lend itself to strolling for candy. It also meant that we had a ton of candy in the house – never a good thing.

We found that Branchville, the little town next door, held a Halloween parade so that the kids (and adults) could all be in one place to show off their costumes. Since Branchville actually does have sidewalks and a bit more of a town, there are plenty of houses and businesses giving out candy. A much more holiday atmosphere and I was again happy, as I didn’t have to have candy in my house and could still see the festivities. Going into its 6th year is the Scarecrow Contest. In 2016, Brad and Jeanne Heinke, with help from the borough council, historical society, business association and the couple who own the bookstore in town, started the Branchville Scarecrow

Contest. Brad constructs wooden frames, with a post to sink in the ground and four long screw on which plunk the pumpkin, to make the scarecrow-building easier. And build they do – businesses, households and anyone who would like to get involved turn their skills to set design. It’s akin to folk art, with genres of American Gothic, American Musicals, American Pop Culture and so much more. The Heinkes got the idea for the scarecrows on a trip to Cape Cod, where they saw the set-ups mostly in front of restaurants, and thought it would be fun to bring home to Branchville. And while they were the instigators, they credit Ethan and Sue-Ni DiStefano of Broad Street Books with promoting and building the enthusiasm in town. Sue-Ni’s social media postings have brought thousands to Branchville to view the artistry and, in turn, increased the tourism and business traf c. The judging takes place the Sunday before Halloween, so a visit a few days before would certainly give you the most Scarecrows to see. There is usually a digital map available on their Facebook page so you won’t miss a single pumpkin; just plug in Branchville Scarecrows in a Facebook search and you are all set. When you come to visit, there are several eateries to sate your hunger on Route 206: Yellow Cottage Deli and Bakery will make you one helluva sandwich (they have THE BEST bread), Fran’s Farmhouse Kitchen at George’s Wine & Spirits will also make you a gourmet bite to eat along with some scrumptious baked goods and, should you like a scenic place to sit, go a bit further up Route 206 and turn in to Gyp’s Tavern for a great burger, a cold drink and an Adirondack chair by the lake. There is the home of our local Bike Night – Jumboland – also on Route 206, which is in its 35 year of serving great food and delicious ice cream. If you’d like to dress yourself up along with your motorcycle while helping a GREAT cause, take a spin on Friday, October 28 to Benny’s Bodega Trunk or Treat, held at R&T Nautilus, 190 Halsey Rd, Newton, NJ. If you are like me, without any children of trick or treat age, you may not know what a Trunk or Treat is. Simply explained, participants bring their car (or motorcycle) to a location and decorate it, usually with some creepy, scary theme like baby dolls, ogres, witches and such. Many create elaborate scenes, add music and smoke, all to entice these innocent little ones to stick their hands in and grab some candy. While there is no real de nitive date or place where Trunk or Treat began, it has been going on in communities since the ‘90s. Some feel that the real essence of Halloween is going house to house, but in this day and age, this alternative gives the kids the same candy x while allowing parents to be a little more at ease. In some conversation, Heather Davey, along with her husband Ben – the heroes behind Benny’s Bodega - mentioned that a motorcycle couldn’t

do Trunk or Treat. When we heard that, the challenge was on. We donned our top cases, lled with only the best candy, and popped into the parking lot. We had constructed some great dragon heads, complete with glowing eyes and aming teeth. We were amazed at some of the decorations the parents did, as well as the wonderful costumes. If you’d like to support the ‘Motorcycles CAN do Trunk or Treat’ Challenge, put October 28 on your calendar and think of some great costume – we’d love to see you there. To nish up with dessert, when visiting either or both of our home town haunts, take a spin to one of my favorite ice cream scoops – Windy Brow Farms, 359 Ridge Rd, Newton, NJ. Jake and crew are always coming up with exciting and inventive avors and I’m sure they won’t disappoint come Halloween. Their ever-rotating avors are sure to satisfy the sweet tooth, even after the candy x. How about some Fig, Honey, Walnut & Ricotta? Perhaps a little Taylor Ham & French Toast? Or one of my favorites – Honey Lavender. Have a spookilicious October, watch out for low- ying witches and we’ll see you on the road! ,

FREE WHEELIN’ Continued from Page 3 Just a quick search of one area turned up a wide range of pricing. In and around Phoenicia, New York – the heart of the Catskills – I found one room for $125 at the Graham & Co. – a seemingly friendly and happy new place. Our Friend Michelle and the Starlite Motel has been a favorite of ours for years. Clean, fun, and very affordable – under $100 – you cannot go wrong here. Yet, not far away, another hotel in Woodstock named after Bob Dylan – complete with a peace symbol built into their logo – is a different story. Yup… Peace, Love & Stay for $234. Okay – Phoenicia and Big Indian aren’t as trendy as Woodstock. But the former seems a far better deal than the latter; especially when you remember the actual Woodstock Music Festival was 60+ miles to the south, the town is living off a big weekend that didn’t happen there, and the Hotel Dylan is still requiring Covid 19 masks. Tall prices and masks? Wow – once again… You cannot be serious? These days only Spider-Man and Deadpool should have to wear masks. Looking at the road map of life in these Post Pandemic Times we know, for us both socially and economically, there will be a need to pick and choose where to go, where to stay, and where to bring our readers on both paper and the backroads. Plan your ride and ride your plan! ,

WHATCHATHINKIN’ Continued from Page 4 Google’ with the image to see if there was anything, anywhere related to baseball with this logo and came up with nada. One suggestion he did make, and this could very well t into something that Jan would do, was that it may relate to a comic book or cartoon with its bright colors. Jan was a collector of comic books (see, I told you) and may have had this cap made up to represent something like that. I thank everyone who took the time to help with this mystery. I feel like it will remain a mystery and I’m okay with that. I will wear this cap to ball parks and perhaps someone, somewhere, will point to it and say, ‘Hey, I haven’t see that logo in a long time. It represents ?????’ , ON THE MARK Continued from Page 5 will, but there’s also something to be said for knowing there’s a nice stop in Amenia and Eldred and Schoharie and a great Greek place in Roscoe. There’s actually a dirty-water hot-dog guy in a gravel turnout on 206 between Roscoe and 30. It doesn’t matter if they’re the same-old, same roads: the views are still beautiful and the experiences are new and sometimes, like when going to The Ghost, it really is about the destination. ,