JAY — Super heroes, princesses, animals plus an assortment of other characters [most less than four feet tall] took over French Falls Park Saturday morning, Oct. 28.
The Recreation Committee staged Kids Halloween Boo Bash from 10 a.m. to noon at the park off of French Falls Lane. While many events scheduled over the weekend were canceled due to the shootings Wednesday in Lewiston, the Jay event went on as planned.
Family members watched and sometimes helped as kids tried to guess how many pieces of candy were in several jars set up on one table.
Seven-year old Hannah Millett of Mount Vernon studied one of the jars while her mom Tarah Judd of Mt. Vernon, aunt Sarah Judd of Livermore and grandmother Sherrie Judd of Livermore Falls looked on.
“I am guessing a lot of people from all over are here today with so many things being canceled,” Tarah said.
Recreation Committee member Linda Leclerc was kept busy explaining how the scavenger hunt worked to the ever-changing line of costumed youngsters. Some had completed the course and were eager to choose their prize while others were just arriving and needed to learn how to meet the hunt’s challenges.
Easton Hinkley, a two-year old from Jay came dressed as Marshall from Paw Patrol. He wasn’t exactly sure what to make of things, but gladly accepted a treat from the black plastic pail adorned with an orange ribbon held by Leclerc.
Two year old River Blais of Livermore Falls ran after a soccer ball while holding a badminton racquet as other children attempted to hit shuttlecocks over the net set up at one end of the large field. When hitting the ball with the racquet didn’t work, he picked the ball up and carried it to where he wanted it.
Chase Edwards, 17-months of Jay came as a skunk. Several times he removed the hood from the costume, then found a U-shaped metal stake in the field that he thought would make a good head covering. Finding just the right way to wear it was a challenge and family members were cautious that he didn’t poke himself with one of the ends.
At one table, nine year old Grant Gould of Livermore Falls decorated a cookie. When his mom was asked if it was permissible for his photo to appear in the Livermore Falls Advertiser, he excitedly asked, “I’m going to be in the paper?”
Recreation Committee member Debbie Breton and Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere provided cookies, frosting and other toppings. LaFreniere said there were only a few cookies left.
Dawson Jones, two years old of New Gloucester sampled the frosting while visiting with his “mammi” from Jay.
Rec Committee member Abby DiPasquale watched while her daughter, Gigi DiPasquale applied a tattoo to a youngster at another table.
Danielle Nawfel of Jay was seen arriving with Evelyn Nawfel dressed as a butterfly, Patrick Nawfel as the grim reaper and Ben Nawfel as a giant pink unicorn.
May Planter of Jay had to stop several times to put a sneaker back on 21-month old daughter Mackenzie Planter who was dressed as a cow.
“We went through 150 cookies,” LaFreniere said a little after 11 a.m. “We had at least that many kids plus their parents. We were planning on 50.”
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