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Show AggieLife Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 Page 5 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com Hey pumpkin, let’s go for a stroll it’s not the children as much as the grownups who want the cookies. Besides the donated cookies and help from the city to provide lighting, the entire event is Twenty six years ago Ida Beutler, a retired based on volunteer work. People from all over school teacher, combined her love of children the surrounding area give of their time, ideas, and Halloween to bring about what the commu- work and materials to bring the event together. nity now calls the Pumpkin Walk. This year the There are many Eagle Scout projects and even walk will run from Oct. 23-24 and 26-27 from the younger boy scouts get a part in chucking 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1100 E. 2500 North. With the old pumpkins after all is said and done. cookies and free admission, this event is for the This year, students from the USU sixth stake student in need of an inexpensive date and a of the LDS church volunteered to carve all of good time or families looking for fun. the pumpkins lining the walk. In past years, Over the years this event has held many USU students have helped build themes to delight and awe the the scenes too. Students, family public eye. This year the theme USUTube and community members alike is “and now a word from our come together to support and have See a slideshow, go to sponsors,” and it includes fun, but 26 years ago Beutler never aggietownsquare.com many new ideas such as expected her idea would become pumpkins of Michael Jackson, such a hit. McDonalds and Keebler Elves, to Macs, PCs and What started out as a few family and comfarmers. Gina Worthen, committee member and munity friends having fun at the Beutler farm scene designer for the Pumpkin Walk, said the soon rose to a large event of approximately art some people do is “amazing.” 50,000 people. The idea originated when Beutler Worthen said each scene is different but has decided to host a fun Halloween celebration that one thing in common: pumpkins. was fun but not too scary for the kids. She baked “You can’t do a pumpkin walk without cookies and rounded up all the apples from her pumpkins.” orchard to make cider. Designers also use an array of media, includIsraelsen said Beutler was a “great hostess.” ing paint, fabric, pipes, wood and pulleys. One year it was so cold at the farm that Beutler Worthen said it’s even fun to go explore Deseret put potatoes in the oven and handed the tangiIndustries (DI) and say, “Aw, that is just what I ble heat to her friends and family to keep warm. need.” That first year a mischievous neighborhood Many scenes from the imagination splatter boy destroyed one of the small themes. A cop the walkway from beginning to end. USU junior found him and asked Beutler what the punishin family consumer and human development ment should be. Beutler told the cop she would Laynee Ortega said she enjoys seeing just how start with milk and cookies then she would need creative many people are. his help to put on a real pumpkin walk, a real “I’m not talented in that way, so I think it’s show. And so it began. really awesome,” she said. “People still long for that who saw it there,” The end of the walk includes some of the Israelsen said. Beutler has since passed away but most elaborate displays, along with a visit from her tradition still holds fast. a friendly witch and a free cookie provided by “You can only trick or treat once, but you can Pepperidge Farms. Nancy Israelsen, who has always do this,” Ortega said. worked with the walk from the beginning, said – kirsten.r@aggiemail.usu.edu By KIRSTEN REIMSCHISSEL staff writer STUDENTS DANCE AT The Masquerade Ball Thursday. The event was hosted by Dance United. The club is a combination of two clubs, Big Band Swing and Ballroom. PETE P SMITHSUTH photo A MICHAEL JACKSON PUMPKIN is one exhibit at the North Logan Pumpkin Walk. This year the theme is “and now a word from our sponsors.” TODD JONES photo Two styles, one club By CASSIDEE CLINE staff writer Father Time and Mother Earth were one of the many masked couples who showed up for a night of waltzing, dinner and entertainment. The Masquerade Ball Thursday was a night that many who showed up said they would never forget. The Halloween-themed ball started the night with a four-course meal provided by USU catering. The Skyroom on the fourth floor of the Taggart Student Center hosted and catered the event as a DJ played a variety of music from the big-band swing era, cha-cha, rumba and waltz. The Ballroom Dance Team entertained the crowd with a choreographed performance. Soon after the team showed off its talents, lessons on how to waltz were given by Ballroom Dance members. The night was filled with couples dipping and dancing their way into the night. Couples had a chance to win prizes for their cleverly designed masks and costumes. Tickets that were filled out by couples when they arrived were drawn for door prizes donated for the special event by local businesses. “I’ve always wanted to go to a masquerade,” Mother Earth, and art major, Anne Taylor, said as she stood next to her husband, Gabriel Taylor who was dressed as Father Time. Taylor’s costume was made from green and brown clothes purchased, cut up and sewn together from Deseret Industries (DI). Father Time wore a mask made to resemble a clock, and the couple carried staves made from tiki torches modified for their costumes. Jessica Beach, junior studying elementary education, who donned a costume that reflected Christine from “Phantom of the Opera,” said she enjoyed how the night was setup. Her date, wearing a Phantom costume, David Nilson, said the night was everything he had hoped for. Dance United co-president Will Christensen said Julia Christensen, who is part of the committee for ballroom dancing, had the idea for a masquerade. The idea, Julia said, - See UNITED, page 6 |