Dancing witches downtown on Halloween

FARMINGTON – Despite it being Halloween, heads did turn and motorists did honk at the sight of a coven of witches roaming around downtown.

Around noontime, the witches, dressed in black and hot pink garb that included pointy hats and brooms, stopped every once in a while to do a flash mob dance number on the sidewalk. They also visited businesses to spread not a scary message, but a healthy one.

The Witchy Women are all friends who like to get together and do, well, witchy things like making brooms and dancing. They also provide support for each other.  The women, who reside in the towns of Kingfield, Strong, Farmington, Freeman Township, Wilton and Jay, flew into downtown Farmington on Halloween to promote the importance of breast health.

The bewitching Halloween fun was tied into a series of events the Healthy Community Coalition has been offering all month. With grant support from Susan G. Komen Maine, HCC staff has held breast cancer prevention clinics throughout Franklin County in observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

At each event, like the one held on Halloween at the Farmington Post Office, women age 40 and older who haven’t had a mammogram within the last year can receive financial assistance for breast health services, assistance in scheduling a mammogram or breast exam, assistance in finding a doctor, and a $25 gas card for transportation needs. Local medical providers have also been offering clinical breast exams.

“They very first person to be checked (at one of the events held this month) had a lump,” said Janis Walker, HCC’s program manager.

Choreographed and led by Sue Jones, who was decked out in a long pink tutu, the Witchy Women performed a German-inspired dance “to chase away the bad spirits,” said dancing witch Susan Catino of Strong.

“Put your brooms down, you witches,” Jones said and then came a rendition of the Monster Mash, which drew honks from passing motorists.

“Don’t be scared, get your mammogram and take care of yourself,” Jones hollered out to the impromptu audience watching. Once the dance ended, the witches flew off in all directions.

For more information about breast cancer prevention or for assistance scheduling your annual mammogram, call 779-2750.