November Updates from Michael Toso
Halloween on the Zeigler town circle was different this year. Local civic groups put on a parade, followed by a children's costume contest, as they have for years. However, this year instead of going home after the contest, children, parents, teens and senior citizens stayed on. In past years the event was lucky to draw a hundred or so attendees. This year well over 800 people (about half the town population) came and stayed late into the evening. The event also featured a bonfire with a hot dog and marshmallow roast, hayrides for all ages, trunk or treat candy give-aways, and local bands made up of young people providing live music.
Zeigler has a number of committed, hard-working volunteers who make things like this fun event happen. ZCAL is a community group that plans events like the Boo Bash. They partnered with the City Council, business owners, the local library, faith leaders, young people, parents and grandparents to bring a bunch of diverse ideas together into one extraordinary, asset rich evening. The idea started with a young person wanting to rent a local building for a Halloween party so his band could play for friends. Soon, this idea grew and the mayor donated a place for the bonfire and a tent for the bands to play under. A Pepsi employee arranged for beverages, Ace Hardware donated hay bales for seating, and so it went, churches, individuals and businesses donating food, tables, signage, electrical hook-ups, you name it.
Adults said they appreciated sitting around with people they hadn't seen for years and enjoyed the kids in costumes. Young people enjoyed the food and entertainment. And the police commented that this was the first Halloween in years that they hadn't responded to multiple complaints. No arrests, no vandalism, just good clean fun!
Since this event, young people have been getting more involved. Following a city council meeting in November seven young people met with city leaders to talk about more events and development of a calendar to promote young people and adults working together on a variety of projects including an upcoming Christmas walk downtown and a New Year's Eve party. Another meeting is set up in early December in which adults and youth will sit down together over pizza to discuss Zeigler's future. Look for more updates next month.