Kids of all ages joined in the Halloween fun Friday in Habersham. People dressed up in costumes for work, attended fall festivals at local churches, went door-to-door trick or treating and enjoyed the annual Trick or Treat on the Clarkesville Square.
Trick or Treat on the Square is an annual event sponsored by the Clarkesville Business Association and Clarkesville Main Street program. Business owners and church groups handed out treats to more than a thousand children and adults who walked along Washington Street collecting goodies and showing off their creative costumes.
Elizabeth Chaffin is among the business owners who chipped in to make this Halloween an evening to remember for the Habersham community. She co-owns Elizabeth & Company with her mom, Shirley Chaffin. Their business, located on the west side of the Clarkesville Square, opened in April. This was their first year participating in the Halloween event and Chaffin says she enjoyed every bit of it. The Chaffins prepared over 1,000 bags of candy for trick or treaters and Elizabeth says all the bags were gone by 7pm. She says the event is fun for families and is great exposure for local businesses. “People get a chance to see what our businesses have to offer and, hopefully, they’ll come back and visit us.”
Getting people to return to Clarkesville – at least at Halloween – isn’t a problem. For many families like the Cooks of Mt. Airy, Trick or Treat on the Square is a family tradition. Leah and Cam Cook’s son, Silas, is just one year old but he’s fast becoming a trick or treat veteran. This was his second year spending Halloween on the Square. “It’s good. It’s very easy and safe for the kids,” says his dad. That sentiment was echoed by many other parents. Jackie Baxter of Cornelia says this also was her family’s second year and it won’t be their last. “We love it. We’ll always come.”
Ask the kids and they’ll tell you the same. 5-year old Tehilla James says, “My favorite part is getting too much candy.” Her big brother David enjoyed filling his bucket with candy but he also enjoyed taking in the sights. “I found familiar people and I found costumes. I found Slenderman who needs to get fatter!” Out of the mouths of babes. Their father, David James, came dressed as Stephen King dressed as Superman. He says, “I love it. It’s a great local event where you can see a lot of local people and interact with people that you know as well as people that you don’t know. The kids get to see friends from school and they get candy and you don’t have to travel a long way.” He says he misses the door-to-door trick or treating of his childhood but sees organized events such as Trick or Treat on the Square as a viable alternative in today’s world. “A place where kids can definitely get the treats without having crazy tricks.”
Clarkesville Police stood watch and helped the crowds navigate through traffic. They say everything went smoothly and no problems were reported.
Officers Ryan Ledford and David Moulder were on duty by the gazebo while their kids were with their moms on the opposite side of the Square enjoying the festivities. Ledford says it’s hard working while his family’s so close by having fun but, “…we’re here for the safety of everybody, not just our kids.” Moulder says he’s worked the event the past two years. “I think it’s a good thing for the community because they get to get out and have fun.” And while both men say they miss being with their families on a family-night like Halloween they, like so many other parents, were looking forward to “raiding” their kids’ candy when they got home.
Share in the fun with these photos captured by Now Habersham and submitted by our readers. Enjoy!
Voting – a right, a privilege and a responsibility
Op-Ed by 10th District State Representative Terry Rogers
Since our country was founded in 1776, over 1.5 million American soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that you can go to the ballot box and vote for the candidate of your choice. That’s something I don’t take lightly at all. I realize that when you vote, you are placing your trust and confidence in me to best represent your viewpoints, and that is an overwhelming and humbling responsibility. I’m grateful to you for that opportunity, and I’m ever mindful of the sacrifices made to give me that responsibility. However, in voting, along with other privileges, comes responsibility. There is a responsibility to educate yourself about the candidates and issues. Don’t just believe all the negative ads and campaign propaganda. Find out where the candidates stand on the issues important to you and make certain that they line up with how you view the issues. You may not always agree with them on everything, but by becoming better informed, you can ask the tough questions and walk out of the polling place know that you made the best decision possible. That’s a great feeling.
Locally, you will be voting on a SPLOST referendum that will have an impact on our county for the next six years. I think both sides have done a good job in explaining their perspective. I was especially pleased at the efforts made by both sides in holding public meetings to get their views out and let you know the pros and cons. Research the issues and then vote accordingly. Both pro and con sides are available for any questions you might have.
It is always my honor and privilege to represent the finest people in the state of Georgia. I’m here to serve you, so if I can ever be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 706–754 –0706 or terry.rogers@house.ga.gov. We are here to serve you.
Thank you for taking the time to vote, but more importantly thank you for being an informed voter. I’ll see you at the polls!