The great pumpkin carved in honor of Clayton Cigal, Sr. (Photos by Marie Daniels)
SOUTHWICK – This Halloween, don’t miss taking your family for a ride to the best pumpkin display you’re likely to ever see. The extended Cigal family of Southwick is hosting its annual Halloween Pumpkin Week in honor of Clayton Cigal, Sr. who passed away in August at age 92, and who loved inviting the community to celebrate Halloween at his home on 31 Congamond Road.
Preparing for the pumpkin display at 31 Congamond Road, Southwick.
Clayton Cigal was a lifelong resident of Southwick, who touched many lives there – either hiring them decades ago as teenagers to work on the tobacco fields; as a long-time friend of Bill W., or from the Southwick CROP Hunger Walk, which he participated in and ran for more than 40 years. His motivation: “No child should ever go to bed hungry.”
For all those reasons, the family decided to do this year’s Halloween celebration in Clayton’s honor. Last weekend, family and neighbors gathered to carve out dozens of pumpkins to put on display. In the centerpiece are two great pumpkins.
Cigal clan, younger generation.
One is carved with a picture of “Snoopy,” Clayton’s favorite. The other and a companion pumpkin, are carved with two of the things that Clayton would say whenever you saw him. In response to asking ‘how are you,’ he would always say, “I’m better now.”
Getting the right sized-helper is important
Clayton’s other famous saying, which will give comfort to his extended family and friends for many years to come, was, “I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
The pumpkins will be on display and lit all week from dusk to 9:30 p.m. at 31 Congamond Road. On October 31, Moolicious will be there with kettle corn for all visitors. Donations will also be taken for Our Community Food Pantry.
Lit pumpkins will be on dsiplay all week at 13 Congamond Road from dusk to 9:30 p.m.
