Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers:

Autumn has come to our area. The leaves are making their annual run as the North Country’s greatest scenic attraction, transformed seemingly overnight into swatches of burnt orange, deep red, and burnished gold. Monarch butterflies have already left on their yearly journey south; the Canadian geese will not be far behind. Days are shorter, nights are colder, gardens are barer as the harvest is picked and brought indoors. In the mountains, woodland creatures are preparing for hibernation. To our north, winter parkas are making their first appearances on the residents of Montreal, while in Burlington, the breezes blowing down the wind tunnel of Church Street are far brisker than before. 

And throughout our region, interesting stories are more prevalent than ever, as common as falling leaves and as tasty as apple cider. Our staff at All Points North have been working since September to bring these tales to you, our readers, in an effort to keep you up to date with the latest happenings of the season. For anyone craving an in-depth look into some of the most interesting people, places, and things between Montreal and Saratoga Springs, All Points North has exactly what you’re looking for.

Want to know what to do with the pumpkins you don’t use for Halloween? If they’re giant pumpkins, try sailing them in the Burlington Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Check out our look at this unique regional event. Interested in dressing up for year’s spookiest holiday — not only you, but your little dog too? Enjoy our story about one town’s annual Pug Parade. Need to know how to make the perfect apple pie? Our article where experts weigh in on the quintessential fall desert will have your mouth watering, and be sure not to miss our profile on the state’s oldest “U-Pick” orchard.

What’s fall without baseball? Read the story of Jackie Robinson’s first game — the first game by an African-American in the previously all-white professional leagues — from the perspective of some of the people who were there. Four hundred years ago, Samuel de Champlain discovered the lake that now bears his name, and All Points North has this aspect of autumn covered, too, with a look at the Samuel de Champlain Museum in Champlain, N.Y. If you’re interested in a walk on the wild side, read our stories about some of the region’s more interesting critters, including bats, cormorants, and some persistent invasive species in the region’s waterways. As always, our “Reviews” section brings you to some of the area’s restaurants, concerts, and more, a must-read guide — along with our day-by-day “Events Calendar” — as you plan your fall social calendar.               

And that’s only the beginning. This autumn, as your questions fall like leaves from the trees, we have the answers right here. So grab some hot apple cider and a piece of pie, and enjoy your journey through our Fall 2009 issue of All Points North.

Happy autumn, everyone, and happy reading.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Pomerance, Editor-In-Chief