Oct. 31 is done, but this trick-or-treat debate rages on
PLUS: Saratoga fam on the 'Today' show, elections coverage preview, and Toys for Toga starts TODAY!
Halloween is come and gone, but the big ’25 trick-or-treating debate is just heating up.
Whose side are you on?
Who knew our neighbors felt so strongly about this slice of technology-driven trick-or-treating etiquette — and what it signifies about our very society as a whole.
The drama.
It all started with a missing “4 pounds” of candy message on Nextdoor. Once clicked open, readers found a home security video from someone’s porch on Halloween night. In the corner: a bowl of candy and instructions to take “2 or 3 pieces” each. In the incriminating door-bell camera vid, a handful of kids go up to the bowl and one by one dutifully choose their pieces. But the last kid cleaned the place out — then ran after his friends telling them to slow down because his (now-heavy) bag was “a workout.”
The video was taken down due to a side debate about showing kids’ likenesses without a parent’s permission.
Another neighbor started a new post so the “Halloween candy business” debate could rage on. Now cresting past the 100+ comments mark, the back-and-forth started to run deeper than “kids will be kids” vs “teachable moment.”
“That’s entrapment!” buzzed one commenter, taking all blame from both parents and trick-or-treaters. “These kids were set up for failure!”
I brought it up over dinner Saturday night, and am here to report back that this is one debate that’s as heated IRL as online.
“There’s no honor system or accountability anymore,” I was told with more force than I was expecting. And a solution was immediately offered:
“Next year’s note should say, ‘There’s no candy because last year’s kids couldn’t share.’”
No one online thought of that.
They did think to tell the adults in the room to either answer the door themselves, or “don’t do Halloween!” (Reasons for leaving a bowl outside ranged from “crazy dogs” and “not feeling well” to having a disability and just plain getting older.)
“Taking an extra [candy] is one thing — taking it all is being a Selfish Pig,” doubled down one commenter.
“We as parents should teach our children respect,” agreed one mom.
Nah, countered her neighbor: “If you leave a bowl of candy unsupervised then that’s on you.”
And round and round it went.
A final commenter vowed never to leave a bowl outside again after being cleaned out: “The next morning, all the candy was gone…but so was my bowl!”
How this Saratoga husband stepped into his wife’s Birkin bag when the ‘Today’ show came calling
Saratoga content creator Ashlee Tighe loves Halloween. And this year, the new mom and her husband, Charlie Tighe, went all out again — hand-making a car trunk-sized Birkin bag with their new baby, Max, dressed as (what else?) a Labubu purse accessory. Then the Today show came calling…But by then, Ashlee was home recovering from eye surgery — leaving Charlie to step into his wife’s Birkin. He was not only game, but he did an amazing job, telling hosts Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager on live television that “Max took about nine months to make,” before going into detail about creating their DIY costume.
Watch the video of the fam’s ‘Today’ show spot here.
Farmers market has migrated for the season
Looking for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market? It’s officially migrated to the Wilton Mall for winter (in the Food Court near the movie theater). Check them out every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Shop all your locally-made favorites including Tyromance Fine Snacks’ gluten-free products (ABOVE), Albany Distilling & Co and Saratoga Peanut Butter Company.
Elections Eve 2025
Early voting up 60%
Early voting is up 60 percent, according to data from the Saratoga Board of Elections. Make YOUR vote count by showing up to the polls tomorrow— voting starts at 6 a.m. All the info you need to know about the candidates and more can be found below.
Keep reading:
I’ll be jointly reporting elections results tomorrow with the Saratoga Report
I’ll be partnering up with Dan DeFedericis of the Saratoga Report tomorrow for joint elections coverage. Check tomorrow afternoon’s Dispatch for details, tune into our social media channels (Twitter and more; stay tuned) as directed— and then expect some kind of 9 p.m. (or later) report with results and other election news updates. Dan says we’ll also appear on live video from time to time — what could go wrong? — to report updates and discuss the results as they come in.
Story developing…
Toys for Toga begins TODAY!
Get in the holiday spirit with the biggest local toy drive, now through Dec. 13
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Toys for Toga’s charitable holiday tradition is back for its 13th year: Starting today, locals are encouraged to get in the spirit by donating new toys and money for local children and families in need. The campaign brings together more than 100 Saratoga County businesses.
In 2024, Saratoga’s largest toy drive donated 4,500 toys valued at more than $40,000 to three Saratoga County charities: Franklin Community Center in Saratoga Springs, CAPTAIN Community Human Services in Clifton Park and Mechanicville Area Community Services Center in Mechanicville. All toys and monetary donations stay in Saratoga County, divided evenly among the three beneficiary organizations.
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“Toys for Toga has become a cherished Saratoga tradition — one that perfectly reflects our community’s generosity and spirit,” said Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga and a founding member of Toys for Toga. “It’s amazing to see so many local businesses and individuals come together year after year to make the holidays brighter for children across Saratoga County.”
From Nov. 3 through Dec. 13, participating businesses — including restaurants, bars, hotels, retail stores, and more — will feature Toys for Toga collection bins in their lobbies for new, unwrapped toy donations.
A complete list of drop-off locations is available at toysfortoga.com.
In addition to donating a toy, the public can support Toys for Toga in several ways:
Free Coffee for Toys: Donate a toy valued at $20 or more at Death Wish Coffee, 260 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, Monday–Thursday, 11 AM–4 PM, and receive a free bag of coffee.
Druthers Toys for Toga Winter Ale: Available in 4-packs at local beverage centers, grocery stores, and on tap at select Saratoga County bars and restaurants.
Specialty Drinks: Order a Sun Cruiser Iced Tea Vodka, Green River Kentucky Bourbon, or Saratoga Water at participating downtown locations.
Make a Monetary Donation: Visit toysfortoga.com to contribute via the campaign’s GoFundMe or directly to the Saratoga County Foundation, Inc.
Businesses interested in joining the campaign are encouraged to reach out via the Toys for Toga Facebook page or contact Discover Saratoga.
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I don’t always see things this way but “kids will be kids” comes to mind.