Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
The event was a Halloween themed fun time when Hopester and other organizations held a Neighbor to Neighbor event, Saturday, October 19, at the new George and Darlene Randall Skate Park, in Lake Isabella
Executive director of Hopester Inc, Eric Simpson manned the fun zone at the event. He said, “This is what we call the Trick for Treats. It’s kind of a build off of the Ribbon Cutting for the Skate Park. And so we’re doing a skate competition. And also have a Trunks for Treats. We have a fun zone. We have an escape room over there. And it’s just a way of celebrating us as a neighborhood in excitement of the Skate Park coming into town.”
During the event California Highway Patrol officers and Kern County Sheriffs Office each held their own Halloween decorated trunks, with treats they gave out to trick or treaters.
Officer Ray said he’s taken his kids to trunk or treats but never manned a trunk himself. So he was enjoying the experience. “It’s neat that they set it up like this,” he said.”
Local Tammy Mondragon manned her own trunk for treats that day. Hers had a nightmare before Christmas theme.
“We’re giving trophies and money. So for first place is $100,” said Teresa Contreras, who was one of the founders of the organization, which raised money to build the park. Other prizes were $50 and $25 for the best tricks from 3 different age groups, Contreras explained.
Jason Bachman, a deacon at Kernville Baptist Church was a mobile Disc Jockey and Master of Ceremonies, during the event, playing oldies music for much of the event.
Chris Zuber, Kern River Valley representative of of Hopester was manning the Escape House that day which had 4 or 5 different rooms leading into a maze. “We filmed six videos to tell a story in it. We planned and hid a whole bunch of clues, throughout, so that you follow through. And as you’re watching the videos, as you go along, it gives you the hint to go to the next one, and to the next one, until you finish and then you go through the maze at the end,” he said.
Zuber said that Hopester and the Kern River Valley Bridge Connection collaborated with the Kern River Valley Art Association and close to 10 volunteers to organize and present the event.
Dog in costume’s name Smokey wearing Aslan costume.
