Allendale's Founding Father, John Fell (center), made a guest appearance at the Lee Memorial Library last night to read his 18th-century page-turner, "The Ghosts of Allendale," to a wonderful family audience on Halloween Eve.

After it was explained that the girl on the left was named Tori, not Tory, John calmed down quite a bit.

A big thanks to Hannah Sweetser for setting up the event and baking those awesome ginger snaps and supplying the hot cider. Huzzah, Hannah!

Thanks to all who attended!

The spirit of John Fell will read his autobiographical spooky tale "The Ghosts of Allendale" on Halloween Eve at the Lee Memorial Library in Allendale. And it's free.

The program begins at 7 p.m.

On a walk in the woods in Highland, N.Y., I encountered this bare patch in the leaves. No other humans had used the path.

What created the bare patch? I'd like to see if your answer matches mine.

Photo by Jim Wright

My column in today's (Thursday's) Record and Herald News is advice from four experts on how to get the most out of your backyard bird-feeders.

The link is here.

Ray Gilbert was nice enough to share his recent Northen Goshawk photo from the Montclair Hawk Watch.

(Thanks, Ray!)