Messenger photos by Rick Palsgrove Winifred Sanderson, a witch from the film, “Hocus Pocus,” (aka Heidi Christensen of the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir) stopped by Groveport’s Heritage Park on Oct. 3 to help stir and cook apple butter in preparation for the drive-by sale of jars of apple butter that will take place on Oct. 10 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The apple butter kettle was different from her usual witch’s cauldron, but she handled the task with ease.A kettle of apple butter in the making.A small group of Apple Butter Day regular volunteers cooked and stirred apple butter from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m, on Oct 3 in Groveport’s Heritage Park. They made 371 jars of apple butter, which, according to Carla Cramer of the Groveport Heritage Society, is less than one-half of production during regular times. Call Groveport Town Hall on weekdays after 9 a.m. at 614-836-3333 to place your order of apple butter and schedule a pick-up time for Oct. 10. Apple butter jar orders are limited to two jars. “We regret the small supply, but are so glad that we were still able to continue the tradition of being with neighbors around the kettles on a beautiful Saturday,” said Cramer. “We look forward to better times next year when we all can get together again,” said Cramer. Added Groveport Heritage Society member Larry Dowler, who has been to every Apple Butter Day since it began in 1974, said, “It’s bad that we have to do it this way this year, but it’s best for the community. We will get through it and next year will be better.”
