GUEST POST via Joe Barkovich fromareportersnotebook

In this Welland neighbourhood, the return of the Witch of First Avenue signals Halloween is near. First Avenue resident Eleanor Clark started what has become an annual tradition in the late 1980s. Eleanor passed in January, 2013, but the tradition was continued by members of her family.

The witch was returned to her familiar post earlier this week when Eleanor and husband Ken’s son-in-law Marcel Lessard put her into position for local residents and visiting passersby to see.

The witch can be found on First Avenue at Trent Avenue. The bewitching photos were taken by the Clarks’ son, Ted.