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THE ROOT ISSUE
OCTOBER 2019
970-515-6332 | GREELEYENDO.COM
MY BEST AND MOST TERRIFYING HALLOWEEN STORY What’s the Scariest Thing That’s Ever Happened to You?
With the spirit of Halloween haunting us everywhere we turn this month, I can’t help but be reminded of the most terrifying event I’ve ever experienced. I’m almost convinced it might be the scariest thing that’s ever happened to anyone anywhere. Okay, perhaps it’s not that scary, but it is something that gives me the heebie-jeebies even today. Without revealing my age, I have to start this story by saying that my childhood took place in a different time. Every Halloween, I’d gather with my friends, we’d put on our costumes, grab our pillowcases, ditch our parents, and make our way to as many houses as we could before the street lights shut off. Then one year when I was 12, a group of five of us got together to find the best trick-or-treating houses in the town. As we were looking through our pillowcases and comparing our spoils, we saw a house we hadn’t visited staring at us in the distance. We could detect some Halloween decorations on the lawn, but the light on the front porch was pretty dim. We were always instructed that houses without lights on were off-limits. This house did have a light on, but it was eerily faint. But being the tough preteen boys that we were, we decided to take our chances. We ambled up to their lawn, and I immediately noticed that their house was rather oddly shaped. Their roof, for example, hung way out past the end of their front porch. As we crossed underneath, we heard
some shuffling above us. While we were already a little spooked from the Halloween spirit, we all pretended like the strange noises didn’t bother us, but deep down we knew, something weird was going on up there. We knocked on the door and the door slowly opened to reveal a dark figure. We could tell it was a person in a costume, but all the lights in the house were off, so we couldn’t make out who we were talking to. We mumbled “trick or treat” in nervous unison. The figure gave us handfuls of candy, told us “Happy Halloween,” and shut the door as slowly as they opened it. As we peered out from under the roof, a huge flying object started flying straight for us! We screamed as loud as we could and tried our best to run away, but just as I took my first step to sprint, the giant unknown blob hit me right in the face! It definitely sent my head spinning but not bad enough to keep me there. I sprinted as far and as fast as I could away from that yard. After running for what felt like miles, I saw my friends in the distance and headed toward them to regroup. We decided we just had to know what that flying object was. We snuck up to that same yard and tip-toed until we were right next to it. Want to know what it was? A mannequin dressed in jeans and flannel!
Apparently, the couple that owned the house loved a good Halloween prank, but the husband who was up on the roof misjudged how quickly we would leave the porch and flung the mannequin down a couple of seconds too soon. While I still have some latent fears when it comes to approaching people’s front doors in the evening, I have to say that I was and still am so happy the couple embraced Halloween so fully. In fact, every October when my family and I decorate our own house, I think of how cool that couple was and how much fun they had giving the teenagers in the community a good scare. It’s what Halloween is about, after all!
– Dr. Scott Lowry
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The approach of Halloween almost always signals a trip to the nearest big-box store for an industrial-sized bag of candy to hand out to trick- or-treaters and fill party bowls. Attempts to opt out for your health can earn you dirty looks, concerned questions, and a less-than-stellar reputation as “that one house that hands out toothbrushes/apples/Tic Tacs” until you move. It can also be sad to dismiss tradition, particularly if you’d love some candy, too. So, what is a health-conscious cook to do? Well, one way to mix up your candy routine is by making your own. Though it won’t be healthy exactly, taking control of the food you eat has plenty of benefits. For one, homemade candy doesn’t need to have a long shelf life, so you can avoid the many preservatives in store-bought candy. You can also screen the other ingredients, choosing organic and local options to boost your vitamin intake. If you’re adventurous, try swapping in honey or maple syrup for sugar or experimenting with carob instead of chocolate. You can even integrate fruits and vegetables to reap their health benefits: Try dehydrated berries in chocolate bars or use vegetable juice to dye your taffy. While you’re at it, why not attempt your dream candy? If there’s a WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR OWN HALLOWEEN CANDY An Argument for Healthy(er) Sweets
flavor combination you’ve always wished for, now is the time to make it happen. Just remember that innovation takes patience; you may need to give the recipe a few tries before it comes out just right. Even your waistline can benefit from turning your kitchen into a candy factory, provided you don’t eat all of your creations. In fact, every step — and pot lifted and pan scrubbed — in the kitchen burns calories and leads to better fitness. Making your own Halloween candy does come with one big caveat: For many trick-or-treaters, hand-wrapped sweets aren’t always parent- approved. Tales of hidden razor blades have led many parents to inspect their kids’ Halloween candy and toss anything not industrially sealed. Still, if you know your neighbors well, you can certainly hand out your homemade goodies — and they’re sure to be a hit at Halloween parties.
LOCAL HALLOWEEN EVENTS THAT WILL HAVE YOU HOWLING WITH EXCITEMENT!
In the theme of Halloween, all of us here at Greeley Endodontics wanted to provide you with some fun-filled family festivities going on in the area this month. We can’t promise that your trick-or-treating experience will be quite as exhilarating as Dr. Lowry’s was in during his preteen years, but we can still claim with 100% certainty that you’ll have an amazing time! Here are three local Halloween events you won’t want to miss! THE GREAT COLORADO PUMPKIN PATCH Location: Tigges Farm Date/Time: Oct. 1–31; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tigges Farm’s pumpkin patch, located in Weld County between Windsor and Greeley, is the perfect place to a headstart on all things fall! With no admission fee, there’s no reason you can’t load up the entire family, grab a wagon or two, and meander your way around the massive garden, picking out pumpkins of various sizes that are all perfect for carving. You can also find corn stalks, straw bales, Indian corn, and gourds for all your fall decorating needs. Are you
ready to carve a picture-perfect jack-o’- lantern this Halloween? Tigges Farm is the perfect place to start! HOWL-O-WEEN TRICK OR TREAT Location: Centennial Village Museum Date/Time: Oct. 19–20; 3–7 p.m. Are you Halloween fanatic? Are you also a history buff? Well this year, Centennial Village Museum has worked hard to combine two of your favorite pastimes! Put on your scariest or silliest costume and get ready for some epic trick-or-treating throughout all the historical buildings. You can also make your way through the haunted house (it’s not too scary for kids), enter the costume contest for your chance to win a prize, or try your hand at several Halloween carnival games. Admission is $3 per person, ages 3 and older. TRICK OR TREAT STREET Location: Downtown Greeley Date/Time: Oct. 25; 4–6 p.m. With both the 8th and 9th Street plazas
closed for traffic and maximum safety, your fairy princess, scary ghost, or fighting ninjas have the perfect location for some prime trick-or-treating. Several downtown businesses will be participating, but there will also be activities like Candy Corn Bowling, Pumpkin Decorating, and Pumpkin Cornhole for the first 150 participants. Plus, there will be treats that have been strategically placed around the plaza for kids to find. Pick up your map on the corner by the Rio and let the Halloween treat hunt begin!
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THE TYPES OF HALLOWEEN CANDY THAT YOUR TEETH HATE MOST
And the Type That’s Not Quite So Damaging
Hearing that sugar is unhealthy for your teeth is going to come as no surprise. For decades, those of us in the dental field have warned our patients to be careful about their sugar and sweets intake as it’s long been established that the longer a piece of sugary candy has to stay in your mouth, the higher your risk of tooth decay. Because Halloween is a holiday very closely affiliated with sugar indulgence, many parents already ensure their kids limit their immediate consumption and instead, spread out all that tasty Halloween candy in the weeks that follow. While this is good practice, several types of candy are far worse for your teeth than others. When it comes to tooth decay, the following sweets definitely plead guilty. SOUR CANDIES. AirHeads or Lemon Drops are some of the worst offenders. In addition to the acidity that breaks down your enamel and gives these candies their sour flavor, their hard texture often makes them slower to dissolve, leaving you even more susceptible to cavities.
their sour counterparts, these too can cause major problems for your teeth. Due to their sticky or gummy texture, they often get lodged on and in between your teeth. Sometimes even brushing won’t clear them away. The longer these sugary particles stay in your mouth, the more damage they can do to your enamel. POPCORN. While it’s not literally a type of candy, how many people remember that one nice lady in the neighborhood who handed out popcorn balls to trick-or-treaters instead of the candy you were really hoping for? Similar to Starburst and Gummy Bears, the kernels from popcorn balls can easily get wedged between your teeth and stay there for hours. If your Halloween-loving children are reading this article over your shoulder right now, they might be wondering, “What can I eat then?” And to that, our team responds, “Chocolate!” Even a dental team wouldn’t deprive you of all candy this Halloween, and that’s why we suggest if you’re going to indulge, consider chocolate instead. Chocolate is usually easier to brush away.
STICKY, GUMMY CANDIES. Think about all those delicious caramels, fruity Starburst, and gummies (in bear or worm form). Like
Have fun this out there this Halloween, but don’t forget about your pearly whites!
HOW TO ASSEMBLE A VEGGIE SKELETON
WORD SEARCH
Those who eat paleo may struggle to find a Halloween treat suitable to their diet. But no matter what your dietary restrictions are, everyone can enjoy some raw veggies with a healthy dip. Here are some tips for constructing your very own veggie skeleton — a spooky twist on a time-tested treat. FOR THE HEAD Your favorite paleo-friendly dip makes a great canvas for a face. Pour it into a bowl and build features on top using different veggies. FOR THE RIBCAGE Sliced cucumbers make for great vertebrae, and bell pepper slivers can be used to simulate ribs. Alternate between the two to give your skeleton some backbone. FOR THE ARMS AND LEGS Any long and straight vegetable will do the trick here. If you want to be anatomically accurate, consider using some spherical vegetables for joints.
Autumn Candy Carve Costume Scarecrow Halloween
October Orange Pumpkin Football Harvest Leaves
Don’t be afraid to get creative and wacky with your veggie skeleton. The whole point, after all, is to have some fun and give people a reason to smile.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE What’s the Scariest Thing That’s Ever Happened to You? PAGE 1 Why You Should Make Your Own Halloween Candy Get Ready for Some Festive Halloween Events Right Here in Greeley! PAGE 2 The Types of Halloween Candy That Your Teeth Hate Most How to Assemble a Veggie Skeleton PAGE 3 The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow PAGE 4
Halloween Celebrations in Sleepy Hollow HAYRIDES AND HEADLESS HORSEMEN
In 1790, a school teacher named Ichabod Crane was riding home alone from a harvest festival in the village of Sleepy Hollow when he encountered a mysterious rider on horseback. Crane, horrified by the horseman’s missing head, turned and ran in the opposite direction. The Headless Horseman gave chase, hurling his own decapitated head at the terrified teacher. Ichabod Crane was never heard from again ... or so goes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. This story, first published in 1820, has become a Halloween favorite. The legend is so beloved that in 1997, the village of North Tarrytown, New York, where many events of the story take place, officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow. Today, the town becomes one big Halloween party during the month of October. Sleepy Hollow is home to many historic landmarks, including the Headless Horseman Bridge and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. Evening lantern tours of the cemetery are a popular attraction, and Irving isn’t the only spooky celebrity buried there. Fans of the Gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows” will be delighted to enter the crypt of famed vampire Barnabas Collins.
not for the faint of heart. During
the event, the 300-year-old Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a living nightmare, where vampires, witches, ghouls, and undead soldiers lurk in the shadows. They all serve
the dreaded Headless Horseman and are determined to make sure guests don’t leave alive!
But it’s not all scares in Sleepy Hollow. There’s plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Sleepy Hollow boasts relaxing hayrides, tours of Irving’s home, live readings of famous Halloween stories, performances of a brand-new musical based on Irving’s spooky tale, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an incredible exhibition of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins.
Another highly anticipated stop for many guests is Sleepy Hollow’s premier annual attraction, Horseman’s Hollow, an experience
If you want a real Halloween experience, you can’t go wrong in Sleepy Hollow. Just be careful not to lose your head!
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