Halloween Parade ‘Better Than Ever’
by Tony Zeli
Halloween Parade 2017 -Photos by Tony Zeli
As volunteers gathered on Halloween evening there was a bit of a scare. No, it wasn’t the devil on a bike or the glow-in-the-dark alien. But, volunteers just learned that the 35th Annual West End Halloween Parade might not happen!
Moments before the march was to begin, parade organizer Wynne Wirth received word that the police had forgotten about the parade. There were no officers scheduled as escort. This is a requirement from the City to hold a parade. Luckily, dispatch got to work and found two officers that were available despite the ongoing storm recovery. Halloween was saved.
Hundreds paraded and had a ghoulishly good time. West Ender Christine McHale thought the parade was “better than ever.”
Organizers would like to recognize Bonobo Pizza, Figgy’s, Fresh Approach Market, Local 188 and Rosemont Market for donating food for volunteers.
Thanks to all that made Halloween a special and safe night for the neighborhood:
Wynne Wirth, Pat Coon, David Marshall, Tracie Reed, Christine McHale, Tony Zeli, Kris Thomas, Mel Smith, Alice Mazurie, Elise and Jim Devon, Espahbad Didd, Kim and Lee Sutton, Allen and Elisa Armstrong, Tricia Waldron, Debroah McCoy, Charlotte Maloney and James, Steve Mortimer, Alice Ruvane and Maggie, Rosanne Graef, Maggie Muth, Heather Chandler, Corey Carmichael, Peter Blackstone (squeezebox) and Matt (washboard), John Monroe and Becky Hunt (huge puppet), Ryan and the Shoestring Band and Gregg from Shoestring on stilts.
Finally, thanks to the City of Portland event coordinator Ted Musgrave, who facilitated the quick dispatch of two officers to lead and follow the parade.
Looking ahead to 2018, expect to see a fundraising campaign to make next year’s parade happen. And they could always use more volunteers to be on the planning committee. For more info: http://facebook.com/westendhalloween.
Tony Zeli
Tony is publisher and editor of the West End News.
