A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke I get some really weird emails. Mostly I ignore them. But one funny one last week got my attention. It said it was a list of 2021’s Best Cities for Vampires. The list is tongue-in-cheek (or as the people who wrote the list said tongue-in-neck). The list maker said cities with warm bodies, blood centers, homes for sale with basements, cloudy days and no garlic festivals were used to make the list. (They noted that while the list is humorous, the U.S. is in the midst of a national blood shortage which is bad news for vampires but good news in that people can make a difference by donating blood. The next schedule blood drive in our area is January 7, 2022, in Spring Green.) No Wisconsin city made the list but here it is anyway: Naperville, Illinois, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Illinois, Omaha, Nebraska, Tacoma, Washington, St. Paul, Minnesota, Aurora, Illinois, Columbus, Ohio, Bellevue, Washington and Paterson, New Jersey. And, if you’re curious and a fan, there are garlic festivals across the country if you love that aromatic and are not a fan of vampires. If that doesn’t put you in a Halloween frame of mind, I also got an email from AAA with safe driving tips for the holiday: “Decorating for Halloween has become a tradition for many families, and a competition in many communities. Home decorating contests surged in popularity last year as families sought socially distanced ways to celebrate the season, and many towns and villages are organizing them again in 2021. “’A moonlit drive past haunted manors and ghostly graveyards is a great way to get into the spooky spirit,” said Nick Jarmusz, director of public affairs for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “But we encourage drivers to avoid risky behaviors that can turn the road itself into a scary place.’ “AAA recommends following these tips for safely viewing Halloween displays from your car: “Buckle Up. Everyone in the vehicle should remain seated and buckled at all times, even when parked on the side of the road. “Appoint a navigator. If you need to check a map, take pictures, or do anything that will take your attention off the road, pull over or delegate those tasks to a passenger.  “Do not stop in traffic. Do not come to a complete stop in a traffic lane. If you encounter someone who has stopped, only pass if it is safe and legal to do so. “Slow down and be alert. Even going just a few miles over the speed limit in a residential neighborhood greatly increases the dangers for cyclists and pedestrians sharing the road. “Follow the law. Be sure your teen driver is observing GDL restrictions on nighttime driving hours and then number of passengers. “Be prepared. Bring appropriate seasonal clothing in the event of a roadside emergency.  “’As always, check weather and roadway conditions before your drive,’ continued Jarmusz. ‘Also, be mindful of hazards that are more prevalent in autumn such as fog and deer. Even fallen leaves can be dangerous, because they are slippery as ice when wet and hide potholes and other debris that could damage your vehicle.’” It’s kind of amazing how big Halloween has grown, isn’t it? Homes are decorated from stem to stern even more than they are at Christmas. Maybe because the weather is better for being outside putting all the things up? We always carve pumpkins for Halloween and hand out treats and in the past did the rounds of parties, costumed to our teeth, but now we walk or drive around to see the sights of what everyone in the Valley has dreamed up to decorate for Halloween. Hope you get a chance to check it out and have a fun Halloween. Be safe and don’t eat too much candy. Stay in touch. My phone number is (608) 574-3159 – call or text me anytime. You can also email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588. If you call, don’t forget that I’m working from home and if my office-mates are with me, I might sound a little distracted. Lucy-kitty is still mad about the new puppy. She is now taking naps on my desk between the keyboard and monitor and bats at anything she sees –flash drives and rubber bands and mainly. I try to shoo her away, gently because I’m not unsympathetic, but she is a distraction. My other office-mate, Scout the Wonder Dog, is a lab cross. Like all labs, from what I’ve been told, she is gassy. During a recent Zoom meeting she passed gas so nasty that I let out a yelp – thank goodness for mute – and had to open a window. Also a distraction. So please bear with me. Visit our website at homenewsrv.com Get in touch with Gwen for sports or features at homenewssports@newspubinc.com. If you need a display ad, Dave Pronold can be reached at homenewssales@newspubinc.com or by calling him on his cell at 588-4777. Display ads, or ads that are in boxes, are due by 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. The classified ad deadline is noon Thursdays the week prior to publication for both the Buyer’s Guide and Home News. Classified rates are $13 for the first 10 words, then 30¢ per word for each additional word. Call (608) 767-3655 or email classifieds@newspubinc.com  Legal notices are due by 2 p.m. on Fridays, email them to legals@newspubinc.com Call the NewsPub central office at (608) 767-3655 for subscriptions and all other information Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, although afternoon hours can vary. Closed Fridays.