by Rachel Hunter
The Second Annual Gouverneur Trunk or Treat, sponsored by the Community Health Center of the North Country and Seaway Valley Prevention Council, in partnership with the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association and Gouverneur Central School District, will be held on Friday, October 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Gouverneur Fairgrounds.
Motorists are asked to park in the Gouverneur Central lot on E. Barney St. Costumed children will then make their way through the fairgrounds entrance between the parking lot and the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair office. They will then walk down the Gouverneur Fair Midway, stopping at each vehicle with decorated trunks and receive their treats.
This is a free community event, and all are invited to attend.
Seaway Valley Prevention Council and the Community Health Center of the North Country hope that the Gouverneur Trunk or Treat will be a fun, family-friendly way to get the word out about what services are available for people dealing with substance use issues.
The idea originated with the Seaway Valley Prevention Council who in partnership with the Massena Drug-Free Community Coalition held a successful Trunk or Treat at Massena High School in 2017, drawing in hundreds of costumed children. Piggybacking on this rousing success while seeking a fun, engaging way to spread the word in the local community about the services available to those with substance use issues, SVPC and CHCNC thought the best way would be to bring a Trunk or Treat event to Gouverneur in 2018. The inaugural event was a rousing success with hundreds of costumed youth participating.
Recalling the fun, Gouverneur-area families are already anticipating this year's event. The Second Annual Gouverneur Trunk or Treat has been announced at the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees meetings and the Town of Gouverneur Council meetings the past couple months. Town of Gouverneur Supervisor David Spilman, Jr. said he gave out over 1,500 pieces of candy last year, and is hoping to distribute double that number this year. All are encouraged to check out all of the decorated trunks while at the Gouverneur Fairgrounds.
The Second Annual Gouverneur Trunk or Treat is still looking for individuals, community organizations, and businesses to decorate a trunk and hand out treats on Friday, October 25. Organizers also encourage wellness-focused agencies to join, distributing healthy alternatives to candy and other items of interest to the costume youngsters in attendance. As of press time on Tuesday, there were 41 trunks registered. For more info or to register a trunk, call Ray Babowicz of the Community Health Center of the North Country at 315-386-1156 ext. 8311, or call SVPC at (315) 713-4861 or email jbrock@svpc.net.
The Second Annual Gouverneur Trunk or Treat will be handicap accessible, allowing it to be a safe, secure alternative to trick or treating in the local community for people of all abilities. Make plans to join the free, family-friendly fun on October 25, 5:30 to 7:30 at the Gouverneur Fairgrounds.