Monday, October 31, 2011
Patch’s Little Pumpkin Costume Challenge with Heidi Klum needs your entries now
Which kid in America has the most creative Halloween costume in the pumpkin patch? That's what we intend to find out with your photos and the help of celebrity judge Heidi Klum, who will select the Grand Prize winner. The Grand Prize? Patch will whisk the winner to New York or Los Angeles for a two day, three night trip for two that includes a meet and greet with Heidi, plus a donation of $1031 to a local charity of the winner's choice. Nine runners up will also get a $1031 donation from Patch to a local charity of their choice. Entering is easy. Just upload a photo of your kid, 12 years of age or younger, in his or her Halloween costume. Entries must be made by the parent or legal guardian of the child photographed. Full rules are here. …
These paranormal investigators, led by a Waukee resident, work to find out what is causing something unexplained, rather than trying to prove there are spirits at work. Sometimes there is simply no explanation.
More than 50 people inside the Simpson Barn in Johnston fell quiet, straining to hear the scratchy recording: “I won’t leave.” People began nodding their heads, smiling and chattering to their neighbors. The recording they had just heard is one of several electronic voice phenomena — or EVPs — shared Friday by Dan Berger of Waukee, founder of the Iowa Paranormal Advanced Research Team. The presentation was arranged by the Johnston Public Library for the Halloween season. The team, also known as the Iowa Ghost Hunters, investigates paranormal happenings at no cost for people across Iowa and in some other states. Tammy Wilhelm of Des Moines and Gail Wiegmann and Lisa Van Ellen, both of Johnston, listened intently to Berger's presentation. …
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Here's what's going on in Waukee today, Oct. 29, and some other stuff you might want to know.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jody Gifford
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Saturday, October 29, 2011
1) Shuler Elementary's Miner's Mart Start your Christmas shopping at the Shuler Elementary Miner's Mart today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be gift items from more than 48 vendors, a bake sale, raffle, silent auction and more. Admission is $1 for ages 18 and older. All proceeds go to Shuler Elementary. 2) Kindermusik Fall Family Music Night Bring the whole family to Kindermusik's Fall Family Music Night at the Westside Dance Academy today at 3:30 p.m. for some not-so-spooky family fun. Children are welcome to wear costumes as they celebrate the season Kindermusik-style. There will be games, activities, treats, and crafts beginning at 3:30. Participants will gather at 4:15 p.m. for a Halloween-themed Kindermusik class. The event is free …
Thursday, October 27, 2011
There's more to decorating for Halloween than just carving a pumpkin. We decided to shop Waukee for some spooky good ideas to deck the halls this Halloween.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jody Gifford
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
It used to be that come Halloween night, you bought a 99-cent paper pumpkin, taped it to your front door, put out your jack o'lantern and called it a holiday. Not so much anymore. These days, folks are going to great lengths to deck the halls with Halloween splendor that no paper pumpkin could possible compete with. According to the National Retail Federation's 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey conducted by BIGresearch, seven in 10 Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, the most in its nine-year survey history. The average person will spend about $72.31 on decorations, costumes and candy. More people than ever before will stock up on decorations for the home, spending an average of $19.79 per person, second only …
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Looking for a ghoulishly good time? Check out all the cool Halloween fun happening this week in Waukee.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jody Gifford
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Looking for some good old-fashioned Halloween fun this week? Well, if you're living in Waukee, look no further than Waukee Patch. We have the skinny, the rundown, the 411 on all things Halloween whether you're 5 or 55. Take a look... Thursday Head on over to Mickey's Irish Pub Thursday and carve a pumpkin for the chance to win a $75 or $50 gift certificate. Mickey's will provide the pumpkins and carving tools. Judging will take place on Friday night with winners announced at 1 a.m. Friday The Waukee Park Board is sponsoring a haunted house at the Centennial Park enclosed shelter house on both Friday and Saturday, 7-10 p.m. Enter if you dare, but be prepared to be scared. This haunted house is not suggested for young children. Cost is $5 …
Monday, October 24, 2011
In this week's installment of Parents Talk, we ask parents for advice on how to make Halloween and Beggar's Night a fun, not scary celebration.
Parents Talk is a weekly feature on Patch where we reach out to those moms, dads, grandparents, etc. looking for a resources and information (or maybe just a sounding board) to talk about parenting. We invite and encourage you to tell your friends about Parents Talk, too. After all, we can’t build a community without your help. We hope that you will contribute your ideas, questions, anecdotes and advice to other parents in your hometown. In the coming months, we will also be organizing a Parents Council that will help answer some of your questions and offer practical, real world solutions. The council will consist of experts (i.e. other parents) who can speak firsthand about everything from potty training to the best pediatricians to …
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
MapQuest has created a guide to Halloween events in all 50 states including Iowa.
- NEWS
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Wednesday, October 19, 2011
This guide to Halloween fun, called FrightQuest, includes events, destinations and things to do in all 50 states, including Iowa. Here is a link to events in Iowa. In Iowa, destination include Scream Acres Maze in Atkins, 2-Jo's Farm: Town of Terrors in Van Horne and Harris Haven Funeral Home in Evansdale. Here is the link to the entire FrightQuest package. The FrightQuest package also contains essays written by well-known writers. Tom Kenny, who is the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, has Halloween observations about how odd it is to answer doorbells from trick-or-treaters dressed as him. Leroy Chiao, has a piece about his Halloween memories of dressing up as an astronaut. Dave Brockie, aka Oderus Urungus, the lead singer of heavy-metal …
It's tradition in the Des Moines area to tell jokes on Beggar's Night when you're going door-to-door gathering candy. What's your best joke?
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Jody Gifford
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Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Shortly after my husband and I purchased a house in the suburbs years ago, we were introduced to the central Iowa version of Beggar's Night. While both us grew up not far from the area, neither of us had ever heard of having to work for your loot by telling a joke. It seemed kind of unfair, especially if you weren't all that funny. Still, that little bit of tradition has brought us great pleasure in recent years, so much so that we look forward to hearing what the kids come up with. This was one of our favorites (though not necessarily appropriate for all ages): Beggar: "Why do mermaids wear seashells?" Giver: "Why?" Beggar: "Because A shells and B shells are too small." So, what's your favorite joke? Tell us in the comments section. Keep …
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Choosing the best candy to pass out on Beggars' Night can make you the king or queen of your block to neighborhood kids. Here's a guide to picking out candy that will please both the kids and their parents.
Beggars' Night isn't exactly the night to be health conscious. Kids turn their noses up at a healthy treat among the avalanche of "fun-size" candy. Your concern for their teeth and their health will translate in to a reputation as the house with the duddy snacks. Suddenly little trick-or-treaters are avoiding your house as though you were handing out pencils and pennies. Still, amid the dozens of snack-size candies, some are slightly better choices, says Gloria Tsang, whose website HealthCastle.com gives nutrition advice exclusively from registered dietitians. Twix vs. Kit Kat? Tsang says Kit Kats are healthier because Twix’s ingredient list is surprisingly long and Twix is marketed as a biscuit topped with caramel and chocolate, but …
Dawn Statton
9:26 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011
What a great contest and to donate the $ to a charity of choice...love it!!! more ›