Want to see fall foliage, get some exercise and help a good cause besides? Then you might want to participate in the finale of the 1,000-mile "Hearts for Hearts" Walk, led by movie star Chad Everett, which culminates on Sunday October 8 at Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park. The walk, which started in Waycross, Georgia, September 19, steps off on its last leg Sunday at Rahway, New Jersey. If that's too far, you can join the crowd for the last three miles by meeting at 1 PM Sunday at Manhasset Valley Park, across from Macy's at Northern Boulevard. From there, you can walk to the festive "grand finale" celebration at the McDonald House, near Schneider Children's Hospital. A project of Rotary District 725,the "Gift of Life," spearheaded by Manhasset Rotary's Robert Donno, was founded more than 20 years ago to help needy children receive life-saving open heart surgery. Since then, more than 1,700 children from around the world have received the Gift of Life at such hospitals as Schneider, North Shore University and more than a dozen other centers around the country. You can help by walking and getting sponsors to donate to the Gift of Life. For More information, call (516) 504-0830 or contact them on the web at www.gol1.org.
Other fall activities around the island include:
-The Long Island Fair, October 5-10 at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. One of America's oldest county fairs, the Long Island Fair offers livestock and agricultural exhibitions, crafts, music, dance,jugglers, animal rides and even an "old time" baseball game. Admission is $10 for adults, & $5 for children 5 to 12, seniors, volunteer firefighters, auxiliary police, veterans and the disabled. Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM. For further information, call (516) 572-8400.
- The 2nd Annual Moon Witches Festival at the Haunted Castle, 281 Broadway Avenue in Sayville, will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, now through October 29,and on Halloween,Tuesday October 31. Voted New York's "most horrifying Halloween experience," the castle promises to
scare you out of your wits. Hours are 6 PM to Midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and 5 to 10 PM on Sundays (6 to Midnight Halloween).
Admission is $8 per person, with seniors and children under 12 at $5. The sponsoring Sayville Fire District also offers some less harrowing activities, such as pony rides, amusement booths, carnival rides, etc. To get there, take Sunrise Highway to Exit 50 Eastbound or Exit 51 Westbound and go to Broadway Avenue. For more information,call
Strega Moon Productions at (516) 579-2431.
MIKE'S FAVES: The last column talked about local opportunities to "leaf-peep" at fall foliage. If you do feel you have to do the "Vermont thing," you might want to stop for dinner at the Four Columns Inn in Newfane. This architypical B&B; has one of the finest "country gourmet" restraurants around, so famous it's hosted the likes of Tom Cruise and Michael Douglas. You can have a memorable gourmet dinner while still enjoying a casual country atmosphere. To find out more, contact their website at www.fourcolumnsinn.com.