The temperature has fallen, the trees are changing colors and there is no question anymore that it is Fall. It is a beautiful but melancholy season, when nature prepares itself for the cold stillness of Winter by dropping its leaves and seeds to the ground. Geese, ducks and all kinds of birds start their flight south and squirrels and other little creatures work tirelessly gathering and storing food.
This closing of a cycle, this feeling of approaching an end, is reflected culturally and socially in the holidays we commemorate at the end of October and the beginning of November: Halloween (October 31st), Dia de los Muertos (from October 31st to November 2nd) and Dia de Finados (All Souls Day) (November 2nd). This is what Renata discusses in her article “Halloween and the Seasons”.
Marcy gives us an overview of what “Halloween Fun” is all about.
Phyllis recalls her Halloweens as a child growing up in rural Michigan in “Halloween Pranks” - I’m sure glad that Halloween nowadays doesn’t involve kidnapping farm animals and taking them on a fun ride…! But Phyllis also writes about a good Halloween custom - “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF''.
If these stories make you excited about taking part in the Halloween fun, Gina has listed plenty of opportunities for you and your family to celebrate the Holiday in “Halloween Events in Ann Arbor”.
Of course, the best Halloween celebration will be during our October Halloween IN Day, on October 20th. There will be games, prizes, and, of course, sweets! Get all the information here!
As we approach the Dia de los Muertos and Dia de Finados, we remember our loved ones that have departed this year:
Carole writes about Kathy Guerreso and Robyn remembers Shirley Wolfe. Kathy and Shirley will always be fondly remembered as strong, selfless women who, through their volunteer work, made International Neighbors’ goals possible.
You too can help IN, our fellow Neighbors and Newcomers by volunteering your time. Check out “Volunteering Opportunities” for more information.
To end our Newsletter this month, we leave you with an important message and reminder from Carole:
“Dear International Neighbors Members:
Hello! How are you? I hope this finds you well!
I am excited to inform you that International Neighbors has a new website. We are asking ALL of you to register on our new website. We hope you will do this in the next two months so that by December you will all be in the new system.
If you do not register in the new website by then, we will be deleting you from the database and you will not be getting the Newsletter or any other correspondence.
Please go to our new web address: http://www.inannarbor.org and register today! If you have questions on how to register, you can find a how-to guide here.
Thank you so much for your attention to this. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write to me at: memberdata@international-neighbors.org
Sincerely,
Carole W.
Neighbors Follow-Up Coordinator and Board Member”