When I looked at the calendar and saw that this issue will arrive on the newsstand on October 25, I was reminded of a search in which I indulged a number of years ago. I was looking for a copy of the painting “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and needed to know the artist’s name in order to get the print I wanted. Little did I know the amount of arcane, trivial knowledge that I would gain before being successful in my original intent. I was familiar with Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem, of course, but did not then know that he also wrote a companion piece titled “The Charge of the Heavy Brigade.” Nor did I know that both Lord Cardigan (for whom the sweater type was named) and Lord Raglan (yes, his name was given to a type of sleeve construction) were military figures who were involved in the British charge against Russian cannon emplacements in the Crimea during the 1854 European war named for that peninsula. The battle took place on Oct. 25, which is St. Crispin’s Day.

St. Crispin is the patron saint of shoemakers and leather workers, because he and his twin were early Christian cobblers who used their earnings to aid the poor and were martyred for their faith in the year 285 (or 286). I also learned that St. Crispin’s Day was also the day on which the Battle of Agincourt was fought in 1415. That battle, immortalized in Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” was the first in which the English longbow was used, heralding a technological advance in armaments, and allowing the outnumbered British to defeat their French opponents. And, more recently, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, when American naval forces defeated much of the Japanese Navy, also occurred on October 25. Oh, yes, I did finally find the name of that artist – Richard Caton Woodville, Jr. Happy St. Crispin’s Day!

October 31, popularly known as Halloween, is notable this year as it marks the 500th anniversary of the event that is considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, the posting of a list of grievances against the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy by the German friar Martin Luther in 1517. Lutherans, and members of all Protestant Christian churches, are observing this milestone with music, special worship services, and attention to the complex history of this faith story that spans two millennia.

On a more local, timely note, there are many things going on in the Hughesville area that are worth our attention. The annual celebration of Halloween and the parade preceding trick-or-treating will be on Tuesday. Friday night is the annual local rivalry football game, which will close out this season for the HHS squad. While most of the teams have completed their regular seasons, there are still fall sports teams competing in various levels of post-season play. The Girls Tennis team won the District Championship and Rachel Thomas earned the title of District Singles Champion for Tennis. And Austin Lewis set a new HHS Boys Soccer single season scoring record with 27 goals, breaking the record set in 1994 by Deric Palmer. Congratulations to all!

Hughesville events:

Thurs. Oct. 26 “Wee Make Music” for children aged 12 months to 3 years and their caregivers at Hughesville Area Public Library (HAPL), 146 South Fifth St., 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Fri. Oct. 27 Pre-school Story Time for children 3-6 years and their caregivers, at HAPL, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

Fri. Oct. 27 Hughesville versus Muncy Varsity Football game at HHS, 7 p.m.

Mon. Oct. 30 “Wee Tales” for children ages 12 months to 3 years and their caregivers at HAPL, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

Tues. Oct. 31 “Wee Play” for children ages 2 – 6 years and their caregivers at HAPL, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Tues. Oct. 31 Halloween Parade at 5:30 p.m. followed by Trick-or-Treating from 6 to 8 p.m. Please be sure to turn on your porch light to welcome all the young ghosts and goblins.

Weds. Nov. 1 The Christian Ladies Group will meet at 1 p.m. at Tivoli United Methodist Church. Dr. John Piper, Jr., retired Lycoming College history professor and United Methodist minister, will speak about the American features of American religion. He will discuss the unique things that religion in America created and then shared with the rest of the world. The public is encouraged to attend.