I love the Old Farmer’s Almanac, so full of trivia. Thanks to this yearly missive, I have found out that Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve) was known to the ancient Celts as Samhain, the death night of the old year. The Church, in an effort to replace the pagan Samhain festivals, moved the celebration of All Saints’ Day to November 1. Apparently, it was hoped that by doing so the frivolity and debauchery would come to a standstill the night before. We know how well that has worked out.

What is working out nicely, though, is the good effort of local Girl Scout troops. Hawley Girls Scout Troops 891 and 599 are lending a helping hand to those residents of Main Street who will be inundated by about 2,000 costumed visitors next week. The girls have put a box out on the front porch of 54 Main Street (that’s the beige Victorian across the street from Edmond Town Hall), where bags of candy can be dropped off. The girls are hoping to have all of the candy donations dropped off by Sunday, October 28, which will then give them time to visit the homeowners before Halloween gets here on Wednesday. Donations of individually wrapped candy and/or nonedible treats are being collected.

Moms and dads who love to take their little goblins trick-or-treating on Halloween, but don’t like to come home with the sugary loot, will be pleased to know that Dental Associates on Church Hill Road and Dr Baum Orthodontics Specialists, also on Church Hill Road, are buying back candy this year. Both offices’ Tooth Fairy representatives will be Main Ssteet the 31st, as well, handing out toothbrushes and maybe a little fairy dust, too.

Daytime trick-or-treaters take heed — If you want to get a jump on candy collection on Halloween Day, plan to visit Edmond Town Hall where treats will be handed out by the offices of the town clerk, the selectmen, the tax collector, and the assessor.

I’m confused. The stores sell candy to consumers. The Girl Scouts donate candy to homeowners on Main Street who hand it out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. The kids sell the candy back to the dentists. Who gets to eat it?

A lot less confusing for me is the Newtown Senior Center Annual Harvest Bazaar. I know that I am going to find lots of quality handmade items there; things like cozy blankets (always popular with a cat), hand knitted caps and scarves, extra-soft hand stitched pillows, and festive table runners for just about any upcoming holiday. Director Marilyn Place and members of the Center will offer their wares on Friday, October 26, from 10 am to 4 pm, and on Saturday, October 27, from 10 am to 3 pm. I’ve got my eye on a black-cat pillow I spotted one of the members making, so I’ll be making my rounds of the bazaar early, before anyone else snatches it up.

Let’s not forget that there is a big election coming up in town, and it’s nice to be informed before casting a vote. The Chamber of Commerce, Newtown Woman’s Club, Rotary Club, and Lions are hosting a Pizza and Politics Forum Monday evening from 6 to 9 pm at Reed Cafetorium. They have lined up 40 candidates for various offices to discuss political issues with the public. Limited tickets at $10 cover dinner, refreshments, and discussion. Call 426-2695 for reservations.

The replacement of some tiles in the entryway necessitated some fancy footwork for Dunkin’ Donuts customers trying to get into the Queen Street shop Tuesday morning. Luckily, Jeff and his crew were thoughtful enough to provide bright blue taped arrows directing the foot traffic from threshold to safe places to step, and it looked like everyone made it in and out with nary a mishap.

A couple of the guys from The Bee’s press crew, Brian Sacco and Emory Klein, were recruited by the boss to take a small boat out in Hawley Pond recently to remove the fountain that keeps the algae down during the warmer months. Their arrival at the pond coincided with the layover of about a thousand Canada geese. Brian and Emory slowly paddled to the middle of the pond as the geese warily made way. But then something spooked the fowl, and the boating excursion suddenly turned foul for the pair. All the geese took wing at once, and it seemed that all of them dumped that ballast for which geese are so well known, covering the guys and loading the boat. It’s pretty clear that the boss is going to need a couple of new volunteers for the job next year. Brian and Emory say their seafaring days are over.

It is probably not too soon to remind you that the extended Daylight Saving Time comes to a screeching halt Sunday, November 4. Don’t forget to “fall back” before you go to bed on November 3 — and maybe this gives you time to take a course in how to reset all the various digital clocks around your household.

What I hope I don’t have to remind you is to…Read me again.