Photos: Trick or Treat Main Street marks a growing tradition in Glocester
GLOCESTER – On Saturday, the giant squirrel was greeting youngsters; that is, Rick Lacouture in a seven foot or taller costume was in front of Chepachet Union Church in Chepachet Village, entertaining children for Glocester’s annual Trick or Treat on Main Street.
At Trick or Treat Main Street, In photo from back, were Jessica Rainone and Carla Lavallee; in the second row Geselle D'Alessandro, Grace Lavallee and Charlotte Lavallee; and front row, Michael Boyle with Merida Boyle and Finaghan Boyle.
“Fantastic,” is how Lacouture described Trick or Treat on Main Street.
“To see all these little guys, kids, out here in costumes, it’s so much fun and a perfect day. To put smiles on these kids faces is a joy,” he said of his experience of the event, sponsored by the Glocester Business Association.
In lieu of admission fee for the event, food donations were accepted for the Glocester & Foster Food Pantries.
Now in its eighth year, Trick or Treat on Main Street was Liz Yuill’s idea, explained Frank Stevenson, the event’s photographer and a volunteer from Glocester. Yuill, a former owner of Main Street’s Brown & Hopkins Country Store who now lives in Connecticut, seemed pleased with the day.
Small businesses of Main Street and from elsewhere were showering youngsters with treats under the sunny sky Saturday. One of the small businesses taking action for Halloween was Auto Body Concepts of Glocester.
Greg Gabel and son John were surrounded by skeletons more than scary.
“Kady and Nate Rogler are among those who need recognition,” Gabel was quick to point out. “They put a lot into this event. People from different towns attend.”
Community-minded volunteers have helped to support or sponsor hundreds of events over the years such as sports, Gabel explained, noting he has been involved for decades as well.
Nathan Rogler with Randy Goulet and Vincent Lepore were nearby helping out at the Main Street Halloween.
“I’m just happy to volunteer and do something good for the town, do my little part for the town,” Rogler said.
Goulet and Lepore agreed with Rogler, who noted that his wife volunteers as well.
“This is great. I love being out here, the weather, and I love giving out candy to the kids,” said another businessman, Michael Boyle of Glocester-based F&M Home Improvement. “My kids love it, and I love giving to the community.”
“After this I’m going to Fogarty Memorial for another event,” the volunteering father said.
As morning turned into afternoon, the traffic grew thicker, still steadily moving. Costumed children were along Main Street buzzing like bees for treats, such as offered by Harmony Hill School’s administrative staff Julie Iannitti, Matthew Iannitti, John Kollek and Kerry Dauplaise.
Trick or Treat on Main Street “is great,” Dauplaise said of the Halloween event. “We participate every year. It’s great to have the community involvement, and for the kids to dress up.”
Among the groups giving out goodies to the trick or treaters was the Glocester Republican Town Committee. Chairperson Cheryl Greathouse said she was “happy to share this beautiful fall day with all the little ones.”
Volunteering with Greathouse was her son Cassidy Greathouse. Last year, the mother-son duo said they gave out approximately 1,500 pieces of candy.
This year, Stephanie Calise and her son Wyatt were also passing out the treats.
In 2023, approximately 1,300 youngsters attended Trick or Treat on Main Street, said Stevenson. That’s up from 450 children in the first year of 2016, according to the event website.
Business participation has also grown. GBA member Jill Stevenson said that 41 businesses and organizations participated in 2024, and the organization collected $2,610 from various contributors in the days before the event, presenting a check for $1,305 to Glocester Food Pantry and one for $1,305 to Foster Food Pantry.
“An additional several hundred dollars was collected from our community members on event day and will be presented to the food pantries in the coming week,” she said. “Two full pickup trucks worth of food items was also collected and donated to the food pantries.”
One of the Main Street businesses participating every year was Chepachet Village Wine and Spirits. Owner Kevin Kitson was a sponsor, and said the gathering was a “wonderful family event all the kids look forward to every year and the adults.”
“And we have to fill up the food bank,” added Kitson. “It’s been depleted and [this is] an opportunity to help.”
Among Kitson’s family members coming to the store for Halloween were tiny trick or treaters. His three-year-old granddaughter Mia “loves it,” said Kevin’s daughter-in-law Katie Kitson of her daughter, noting she looks forward to the annual event.
“Every week leading up to Halloween she asks ‘is it time yet?'” said her mother.
Veronica Bonoyer of Foster had her children Sophia and Jason, 9-year old twins, in tow.
The mother said she appreciated that small businesses up and down Main Street participate.
Another youngster reaping the rewards offered by businesses and organizations this year was Logan Costello, age 9 and attired in a Star Wars costume, and with him Ann Costello of Blackstone, Mass.
“We love it,” Costello said of trick or treating in the Chepachet Village.
The family duo were “taking in trick or treating in one spot and seeing the scarecrows, too” she said.
A South African mastif dog dressed as a lion attracted plenty of glances from passersby. The man leading the leash, Rich Ptaszek, said the dog’s name was ‘Rebecca,’ and that she weighs 150 pounds.
“We come every year and bring more family, and it has become a family tradition,” said Jane Ptaszek.
Youngsters Annika, 12, and Nicholas Gregory, 3, posed for a photo with Rebecca, who seemed to take all the noise, traffic, and people passing by in stride.
Back at the Chepachet Union Church table, more and more smiling visitors were greeted by happy giant squirrel Lacouture with help from volunteer Joann Barros; the church’s current owner, Jan Steere; and Kim Lacouture, whose family connection with the church goes back more than 100 years.
A speculator might wager that if the enthusiasm shown on this past Saturday keeps up each year, one day Trick or Treat on Main Street might be as old as the church is now.