By Ted Waddell and Dan Hust
GRAHAMSVILLE — October 7, 2003 – The 18th Annual Giant Pumpkin Party and Children’s Parade went on as planned Saturday at the Little World’s Fairgrounds in Grahamsville – albeit under rainy skies. The cold weather also didn’t help attendance for the Daniel Pierce Library fundraiser, but the parade and subsequent fall-themed festival were still bonanzas of color. The theme for this year’s float entries was the library’s promotion of “Picture This, Imagine That – READ!” The festival had something for everyone, from a used book sale to a petting zoo to a haunted house and hay rides. The winner of the giant pumpkin contest was Bill Brustman of Obernburg, who brought in an Atlantic Giant pumpkin weighing a tremendous 768 pounds. He had been trying for years to unseat Andrew Schauer of Roscoe, who this year won for the smallest pumpkin at less than an inch in diameter! The second heaviest pumpkin, another Atlantic Giant weighing 669 pounds, was grown by Paul Brustman of Obernburg. Coming in third was Susan Budney of New Windsor with a Burpee Prizewinner of 159 pounds, and fourth was Jeffrey Michel of Swan Lake with a 117-pound Atlantic Giant. At press time, fundraising totals were not available. Look in Friday’s Sullivan County Democrat for more information.