According to Newtown Middle School art teacher Claudia Mitchell, once school resumes ballots for the contest will be counted and the winners will be announced at the school.

“It will all fall into place when school resumes, and parents will take down the scarecrows whenever they can, I am sure,” said Ms Mitchell by e-mail this week.

This year’s scarecrows were meant to be on display from Saturday, October 22, through Saturday, October 29, but Storm Alfred put a chill on the end date for the display.

By Monday, October 31, limbs from trees on the property had fallen on a select number of the scarecrows, while some had been blown over by the storm’s strong winds. Some scarecrows remained steadfast against the storm, standing up to the charge that all entries be able to withstand inclement weather.

Each year student groups of eighth grade students are challenged to assemble scarecrows that will frighten away a demon of the group’s choosing. The groups are limited to using only $25 and to working on the projects outside of school. The creations must be larger than life and be able to withstand weather.

The scarecrows are then put on display on the school’s front lawn for residents to vote, $1 per vote, for their favorite entry into the contest. Ballots were collected at both Newtown Middle School and at The Newtown Bee’s 5 Church Hill Road office this year, as in past years.