Halloween 2012 is today. Where did this day come from?
Historians trace the origin back to the pre-Christian Celtic people of Britain, Ireland and France. Druids believed the spirits of all who had died the year before roamed the earth, and they built bonfires to ward off evil spirits.
Many Halloween customs having to do with fire, fortune-telling, ghosts and good luck can be traced to Celtic beliefs. Unlike other holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, Halloween has no origins in Christianity.
I have observed many trees at some homes rolled in toilet paper. Some teenagers get credit for this. Don't know the origin of this activity.
Nearly 200 visited Head Start's open house on last Friday. I saw Mayor Jimmy Poss, Charles Robinson, Mr. Willoughby, superintendant of schools, Kathy Hendrixson, representing the library, and many other dignitaries and many, many parents and grandparents. The table was laden with a delicious variety of food. The wildlife van featuring many animals was parked out front. By the way, Snowbird will be present at the center on Halloween (today).
On Nov. 2 the Methodist women and men will be featuring a Homemade and Heartfelt (Holiday) Bazaar at their Fellowship Building beside Love-Cantrell Funeral Home from 8-4 p.m. Come on up and do your holiday shopping early and enjoy a variety of lunch menu.
Good to see Susan Young back at work at the Middle Tenn. Gas Company after a medical leave and also Alan Webb back as a pharmacist at Webb's Drug Store after major surgery.
Get-well wishes and prayers go out to: Linda Judkins; Juanita Hooper;  and one-month-old Chloe Guess, daughter of Ashley and Nick Guess, Brenda Tramel; Eddie Sutton and others who are ailing.
Best wishes and congratulations to Joy Parker on her recent retirement from teaching after 30 years. She started out at the Middle School in special education, then 12 years at Smithville Elementary and Northside in the 4th-grade and then back at the Middle School in special education.
It takes a special person to teach in Special Education and I'm sure Joy has been that type of teacher. She said that she was sad to leave the teaching field and that she will miss all the children and fellow teachers.  She added that she will begin work this week in the law firm of Gayla Hendrix. Joy is a delightful person to know and her name is very befitting for her. The family celebrated her retirement by spending a week in Florida at Disney World and the beaches at Cocoa Beach.  Sharing her special week were Charlie, Katie and Summer.
More good news is the remodeling completion of the home of Faye and Spencer Iverlett.  The tornado, an  F1, hit their lakeside home on Feb. 29.  Their home was surrounded by tall pine and maple trees which blew down on their home with Faye inside listening to the crushing blows.  The extensive remodeling took six months but Faye said that she was blessed with surviving it and glad to be back home. One advantage is knowing a good insurance agent (Spencer).
Remember to set your clocks back one hour this coming Sunday as Daylight Saving time ends. Don't go to church one hour early. This is the time to catch an extra hour of sleep.
Also don't forget to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6.  This is an important race this year with the presidential race. This is one of our American freedoms, so please vote.
Have you had your flu shot yet?  I got mine last week.
Also the business people in town will be welcoming all the little goblins on Halloween from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and  the youth are hosting their Trunk- or-Treat 5:30-8 p.m. at the Methodist Fellowship Building.
My advice, this week, is double check the trick-or-treat candy and be careful on the dark streets with masks on for visibility.  Boo!