A Very Special Halloween

Ghosts and ghouls, candy and costumes, Halloween is soon upon us. My how the year has flown by.
For most intents and purposes, Halloween has become the unofficial start of the holiday season, and what better way to start off a season meant to celebrate family, friends and of course, fun, than by doing something for others in the community.
The average Halloween might consist of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and pirate costumes for the kids, buckets of candy just a doorbell ring away, maybe even with the odd drop of fake blood or two, but this year some local businesses are giving out a little more than candy. Connections of Moorhead, an organization that works to help persons with special needs to achieve independence, along with several area businesses, will be holding a Halloween Costume Ball for people with special needs.
Local business owners have stepped in to make sure the event is a free one. “It is truly a community-wide effort,” said Connections Development Director Rhonda Wilson.
For the disabled in the area events like this year’s dance are vital for community building.

“Its a great opportunity to meet others in the area,” Wilson said.
The ARC of West Central Minnesota in Moorhead, which is also sponsoring the dance, often puts together dances for clients but isn’t able to bring in the large numbers that come with a community-wide event. “We really wanted to open it up to everyone,” Wilson said. And that is where area businesses stepped in.

Tom Teple, owner of Discontent, came to Connections last year with the idea for the event. A dance was held that year for Connections’ clients to test out the idea.

“It was one of the best times I’ve had,” Teple said.

Now Teple wants the dance to grow throughout the community, maybe further if possible. Teple himself came into contact with Connections through his son Troy Racek’s autism.

Local businesses Specialty Commodities Inc., Erickson Contracting and Speak Easy all stepped in to provide the funding and catering for the dance this year. Ben Halock of Radio FM is donating his time and talents to DJ the event, and Discontent employee Stacey Anthony, who Teple calls “The Queen of Halloween,” is stepping in to make sure the decorations are just right.
“Halloween is becoming the party of the year,” Teple said. And this year everyone is going to be in on the party.

The dance will be open to the public. In conjunction with the dance, a self-advocacy conference, which will educate other people, especially those with special needs, to advocate for their rights, will be held at the Courtyard.

Contact Rhonda Wilson at (218) 233-8657 ext. 40, for more information.

Questions and comments: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

INFO:

What: Halloween Ball
Where: The Courtyard, Marriott Inn
When: Fri, Oct 30, 7 p.m.
How much: Free admission