West Leechburg woman cultivates Halloween, community spirit

Mary Zanotto is no stranger to hosting big events.

From a Galentine’s Day event to a St. Patty’s Day block party, planning ways for everyone in her community to feel included has always been an integral part of Zanotto’s life.

“It’s a no brainer,” Zanotto said. “You love people, love life — why not take the time to show other people how cool it is?”

Zanotto, 47, took a unique approach to her Halloween this year, making the decision to host a neighborhood pumpkin patch in the front yard of her West Leechburg home. She and her husband, Rob, bought 50 pumpkins and placed them on their neighbors’ door steps with a note attached explaining the idea for the patch. Having lived there for 10 years, none of her neighbors were very surprised about the operation.

“I thought, why not let the neighborhood decorate our yard,” Zanotto said.

The couple asked folks to start dropping their carved pumpkins off on Oct. 24 and passed them out the week before.

“These are the little things I love to do,” Zanotto said.

Hoping to make this an annual event, she is using this first year as a learning opportunity.

“October 24th might have been a little too soon because some (pumpkins) are looking a little sad,” Zanotto said.

Since the first day of drop off, the couple’s front yard has slowly filled with pumpkins carved by their neighbors. Each pumpkin has its own battery powered candle light that Zanotto and her husband turn on each night at around 7 p.m.

“We let them run around three hours and go back out and turn them off at 10 (p.m.),” Zanotto said.

She said throughout the process she has met some new people and even helped welcome a newcomer to the neighborhood.

“(Our new neighbor) hasn’t even fully moved in yet,” Zanotto said. “She carved her pumpkin and dropped it off. We got to meet and speak and she was really excited about (the patch).”

Zanotto is accepted pumpkins through Halloween night, and has already had visitors come to her yard and take photos with the pumpkins.

“I think I’m happier than even they are,” Zanotto said. “I’m so excited. We had eight pumpkins on the first day and I was so excited. I love it so much.”

Zanotto said the couple wants to continue the tradition and make it a bigger event next year. Despite her work life as a home health nurse keeping her busy, she has prioritized these types of events for her community.

“We have this one life to live and I don’t want to waste it,” Zanotto said. “Sometimes people are at home and don’t have friends or family to be with. Making someone smile or laugh when they maybe haven’t done that in a while is an amazing feeling.”