No trick: fun Halloween treats on tap this weekend
Halloween is on the horizon and several local events are planned this weekend for youngsters and families to enjoy.
On Friday, Oct. 30 …
— The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce and participating businesses and organizations will host downtown trick-or-treating from 5-7 p.m. at Rock Park/Sun Basin Plaza and surrounding area.
— Columbia Basin Hospital will feature trick-or-treating from 3-4 p.m. at the Garden Oasis Assisted Living facility, 200 Nat Washington Way. Kids can “follow the loop” to collect candy. Residents enjoy seeing all the fun costumes.
On Saturday, Oct. 31 …
— Families are invited to the annual trunk-or-treat festivities from 5-7 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima School, 520 Nat Washington Way. Food and beverage vendors will also be on site.
— Soap Lake police and local businesses will host a trunk-or-treat gathering from 5-7 p.m. at East Beach/Smokiam Park behind the B&B Drive-in.
Second-half property taxes due Saturday, Oct. 31
EPHRATA — Grant County taxpayers are reminded that real, mobile home, and personal property taxes for the second half of 2026 are due Saturday, Oct. 31.
Tax statements, parcel information, and an online payment system are available on the treasurer’s office website.
Mailed payments must be postmarked by that date to avoid being considered delinquent. Payments can also be made weekdays inside the treasurer’s office, or placed in a drive-up drop box in the northeast parking lot of the county courthouse.
For more information, call 509-754-2011, ext. 4201.
Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1
It’s time to “fall back” one hour this weekend.
For most states, including Washington, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, and clocks should be set back one hour. Standard time continues to March 14, 2027 when we “spring forward” once again.
In the U.S., Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time year-round.
Emergency service responders suggest homeowners use the twice-a-year event as a reminder to check their household smoke alarms to make sure the devices are operating properly.
Event will share stories of farmworker families
YAKIMA — The stories of migrant and farmworker families in eastern Washington will be the topic of a special presentation on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Yakima Valley Museum in collaboration with the Washington State History Museum.
A Spanish presentation of “Our Migration Story” is planned at 5:30 p.m., followed by a community reception at 6:30 p.m., then an English presentation at 7 p.m. Both presentations will feature guest speaker Herminia Esqueda, a strategic initiatives administrator with the state Department of Social and Health Services, and musical performances by Lorraine Peterson.
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Halloween festivities, property taxes due, daylight-saving time ends, farmworker stories shared.
No trick: fun Halloween treats on tap this weekend
Halloween is on the horizon and several local events are planned this weekend for youngsters and families to enjoy.
On Friday, Oct. 30 …
— The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce and participating businesses and organizations will host downtown trick-or-treating from 5-7 p.m. at Rock Park/Sun Basin Plaza and surrounding area.
— Columbia Basin Hospital will feature trick-or-treating from 3-4 p.m. at the Garden Oasis Assisted Living facility, 200 Nat Washington Way. Kids can “follow the loop” to collect candy. Residents enjoy seeing all the fun costumes.
On Saturday, Oct. 31 …
— Families are invited to the annual trunk-or-treat festivities from 5-7 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima School, 520 Nat Washington Way. Food and beverage vendors will also be on site.
— Soap Lake police and local businesses will host a trunk-or-treat gathering from 5-7 p.m. at East Beach/Smokiam Park behind the B&B Drive-in.
Second-half property taxes due Saturday, Oct. 31
EPHRATA — Grant County taxpayers are reminded that real, mobile home, and personal property taxes for the second half of 2026 are due Saturday, Oct. 31.
Tax statements, parcel information, and an online payment system are available on the treasurer’s office website.
Mailed payments must be postmarked by that date to avoid being considered delinquent. Payments can also be made weekdays inside the treasurer’s office, or placed in a drive-up drop box in the northeast parking lot of the county courthouse.
For more information, call 509-754-2011, ext. 4201.
Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1
It’s time to “fall back” one hour this weekend.
For most states, including Washington, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, and clocks should be set back one hour. Standard time continues to March 14, 2027 when we “spring forward” once again.
In the U.S., Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time year-round.
Emergency service responders suggest homeowners use the twice-a-year event as a reminder to check their household smoke alarms to make sure the devices are operating properly.
Event will share stories of farmworker families
YAKIMA — The stories of migrant and farmworker families in eastern Washington will be the topic of a special presentation on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Yakima Valley Museum in collaboration with the Washington State History Museum.
A Spanish presentation of “Our Migration Story” is planned at 5:30 p.m., followed by a community reception at 6:30 p.m., then an English presentation at 7 p.m. Both presentations will feature guest speaker Herminia Esqueda, a strategic initiatives administrator with the state Department of Social and Health Services, and musical performances by Lorraine Peterson.
The event is free and will also be livestreamed online.