Debra McRoberts
Outreach Coordinator
I’m not sure when this tradition started but ever since I was a kid, every Halloween we would have chili for dinner then we would go trick-or-treating. Even though my brother and I eventually stopped trick-or-treating, we still have chili for dinner every Halloween night. It’s one of those small traditions that I enjoy, and it does bring back good memories from past Halloweens.
Jessica McWilliams
Managing Editor
Photo Editor
My favorite fall tradition is reading a book called the “Witch of Black Bird Pond”. It’s set in New England in the 1680’s about five years before the Salem Witch trials. The book is not all that spooky but it makes me think about the Salem Witch trials and they are kind of spooky. I also love to go to Pumpkin Fest in Anamosa. It is the first Saturday of October every year. Giant pumpkins are brought from all over the Midwest to see who has grown the biggest pumpkin. My dad and brother grow them and their biggest has been over 1,000 pounds.
Amanda Bollig
Graphics Editor
I’ve always loved to visit haunted houses. I’m a thrill seeker, adrenaline gets my blood rushing. I hope I can go at least to one this year, although I know it will be difficult with COVID. That is why I love to decorate at home to make my own mini haunted house!
Casey Elizabeth Dennis
Staff Writer
Our house is the favorite on the block for trick-or-treating night. This is because every year we give out full-sized candy bars. We’re talking the good candy bars too like Snickers, Kit Kats, and Twix! I also spend the month of October only watching scary or suspenseful movies and TV shows.
Chris Klepach
Staff Writer
For the last few years, my fall traditions had boiled down to being in the quiet Fareway I worked at, because everyone else was out trick-or-treating or whatever Halloween party they had. That was a tradition, but this year is going to be different. I think I’m going to try to take this off so I can go with my little step brother to help him trick-or-treat. If not cause of Covid, then I’ll just watch some Freddy Vs. Jason or other ridiculous slasher horror.
Andrew Schneider
Web Editor
With all the working and studying it sometimes seems like autumn and it’s traditions, sights and smells can fly by before I have time to even notice them. In years past I have had the experience of traveling somewhere in the fall and being shocked that not only are they almost done combining the fields but I had completely forgotten that this was the time of year when they combined. Life’s gotten so busy that I forget about being that kid who would collect missed ears of corn which the farmer who worked the fields around my childhood home would let me throw into the blades of his combine.
So, in more recent years I’ve tried to be more conscientious and purposely travel a few times in October. Not far, just an hour or so to visit family or something like that. I get to see all the beautiful changing leaves. I get to see how far the farmers “have gotten” and wonder how the soybean futures are looking. But most importantly I get to search for the clouds of dust, and the mechanical beasts rising out of them slowly combining from one end of the field to the other. I get to remember.
Categories: Staff Picks
