Spooky fun
REBECCA PETTINGILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 1 month AGO
Bunches of children and their families attended downtown Ephrata’s trick-or-treat Halloween evening. Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Director Rita Witte said many parents and children could be observed enjoying themselves at the event.
REBECCA PETTINGILL/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Director Rita Witte, right, smiles as she hands out candy at the Ephrata downtown trick-or-treat on Halloween.
Many businesses and organizations had tables along First Ave to hand out candy including Columbia Ridge Elementary.
A father holds the hand of his child dressed as a dinosaur as they walk through the downtown trick-or-treat event in Ephrata.
EPHRATA - The Ephrata Trick-Or-Treat, sponsored by the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce, was a huge success Monday night.
“I think it went off really really well,” said Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Director Rita Witte. “The kids were having a great time and it was busy.”
The trick-or-treat event was held along First Ave SW between Alder Street and Basin Street. Businesses and organizations set up tables along the edges of the street as ghouls, goblins, witches and many other creatures and characters received their candy stipend.
“It's good for - instead of people going to houses and everything, it's safer,” said Tristyn Eldredge. “Everything is confined, you know where kids are, it’s lit.”
Witte also noted how she felt like it was a safe option for families and a great way for businesses along Basin Street to participate as well since many stayed open for the event and handed out candy as children walked by on their way to or from the event.
Eldredge grew up in Ephrata and while she now lives in Moses Lake, she is a student teacher at Columbia Ridge Elementary. She said she felt the chamber’s trick-or-treat was a good option for her and her young child to celebrate Halloween and be able to see people she knew.
“He’s so young,” Eldredge said about her infant child. “He’s only one so that would be a much better option for him and I get to see Columbia Ridge people that are here and show off my son.”
Witte estimated that they saw 1,000 to 1,500 trick-or-treaters in downtown Ephrata.
Another part Witte enjoyed was that even the parents would dress up as well.
“Parents were great,” said Witte. “Everybody seemed to have a great time.”
She also gave props to the parents for how polite their children were and for encouraging them to not only say “trick or treat” but also “thank you.”
She wanted to make sure to thank all the businesses and organizations who participated and made it a great event.
“I think there's a lot of pluses with an event like this,” Witte said.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY REBECCA PETTINGILL
Ag issues on docket in 2023 Washington Legislature
OLYMPIA — The 2023 Washington Legislature session included bills to support agriculture. House Bill 1138, concerning drought preparedness, is one piece of that legislation. “We’ve been working on that for two to three years,” said Rep. Tom Dent, a sponsor of the bill. “So we get into a drought in different areas of the state and the drought committee comes together and puts together a plan to help people in the drought-affected area to mitigate the effects of the drought, whether it means through use of emergency wells, financial assistance, (or other measures).” HB 1138, requested by the Department of Ecology, adjusts the circumstances in which the Drought Committee is authorized to convene. The bill amends these circumstances to include when a drought advisory is in effect and when a drought emergency order is in effect.
Legislators request millions in infrastructure funding for Adams Co.
RITZVILLE – Adams County looks to have millions of dollars in federal funds for infrastructure projects approved by Congress through requests by regional legislators. “We are grateful to all the members of our Congressional delegation, each of whom has stepped up to assist with vitally important infrastructure projects for our region,” said Dan Blankenship, Adams County Commissioner... .
Dent proud of committee’s bipartisan effort in 2023 session
MOSES LAKE – Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, said that there is a lot he has to be proud of from this session, but the thing he was most proud of was the bipartisan effort to tackle bills by him and several other lawmakers. “I think, for me, there were a lot of wins,” said Dent. “The kind of wins that you don’t see.”