o p i n i o n s A Dark Patch Indeed A Plea For Sanity Concerning Your Pumpkin Pursuit By Dave Stinton It's autumn, and the promise of fun and adventure calls us to the nation's pumpkin patches for hayrides, leaf-frolicking, and taffy apples. And, of course, the choosing of a ripe, firm pumpkin for your annual jack-o-lantern and seed roast. However, many of you may not be aware of the horrible conditions under which "patch pumpkins" grow up. Many of them suffer from untreated stem-rot or lack of shelter from the cold October winds. Many have been maltreated and have a hard time trusting their new owners. In addition, it is not an uncommon practice for pumpkins to be planted in such close proximity to each other that they literally cannot move around. This pumpkin might look happy but the reality is much different for most pumpkins. Furthermore, after Halloween has ended, "patch pumpkins" have a much harder time adapting to the outside world when they are set free. They find their new spooky faces very disorienting, and they exhibit signs of depression and confusion. Often, they are found dead within a few blocks of the carver's home, in the midst of a failed attempt to burrow underground. Please, please boycott pumpkin patches and get your Halloween pumpkin from a clean, sanitary, and comfortable grocery store, like a Jewel or a Dominick's. Sorry to go on a rant here, but it's something I feel strongly about.   Dave Stinton just moved.