From Bake-Off to Dash Challenge … Fun for All this Weekend

It’s that time of year again when children are trying to decide what to dress up as for Halloween and their parents are hoping they don’t change their mind five times before the 31stactually gets here. This Saturday is a great time to take one of those costumes for a test run. The 6th Annual Turtle Wing Foundation Monster Dash will be held in downtown Schulenburg at the Railroad Park on October 13. Everyone is invited to join in the fun. The event name highlights two of the main features. Monsters and mermaids alike are encouraged to enter the annual Jack Hooper Costume Contest. The categories to be judges include Best Homemade, Best Group, Best Duo, Scariest, Funniest/Silliest, Cutest and Best 5-minute Throw Together. The Monster Dash is indeed that! The race is a sprint and contenders are encouraged to challenge friends and family to see who is the fastest. Prizes will be awarded for fastest male and female 9 and under, 10-17 years old, and 18+. The newest activity is the Halloween Themed Bake-Off. This is open to amateur bakers of all ages. Entries must be homemade desserts and should be brought to the Turtle Wing office (723 Upton Avenue) to be judged. Prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, Tastiest and Most Creative. What would a Halloween carnival be like without trick-or-treating? No worries! as there will be plenty of spooky stops for kiddos to visit for treats in the Boo-Around-the-Block. Children in costumes are welcome to enjoy this between 5-6 PM. Pre-registration is requested for those who want to feature their business or organization at Boo-Around-the-Block and hand out goodies. Details may be found on the Turtle Wing Facebook page or by contacting the office at 979-505-5090. For those who don’t want to enter in one of these areas, there will be plenty of fun to be had for the whole family between 4-7 PM including a dunking booth with Community Helpers volunteering (police, VFD, and teachers!), a kid zone, music & food, photo booth and silent auction. The intention is to provide family fun and to bring our communities together to celebrate Jack’s favorite holiday! The foundation was founded in honor and memory of Jack Hooper who was diagnosed with high functioning autism at the age of 6. A lot of people didn’t know that about him. Most people just saw a happy, special little boy who was a little quirky. Jack unexpectedly passed away from an unknown virus just a month short of his 10th birthday. Last year over 300 children with academic, social-emotional, behavioral and/or developmental needs received direct support through Turtle Wing programming. Turtle Wing’s three programming areas are Early Intervention, Supplemental Services, and Community Education & Advocacy. The Monster Dash event benefits Turtle Wing Foundation which strives to help children with learning challenges in rural areas achieve their full potential. Program participants have all been from Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca and surrounding counties. For more information on the Monster Dash or the services provided by Turtle Wing please contact Susie Shank, managing director, at (979)505-5090, follow on Facebook @turtlewingfoundation, or

’s that time of year again when children are trying to decide what to dress up as for Halloween and their parents are hoping they don’t change their mind five times before the 31stactually gets here. This Saturday is a great time to take one of those costumes for a test run. The 6th Annual Turtle Wing Foundation Monster Dash will be held in downtown Schulenburg at the Railroad Park on October 13. Everyone is invited to join in the fun. The event name highlights two of the main features. Monsters and mermaids alike are encouraged to enter the annual Jack Hooper Costume Contest. The categories to be judges include Best Homemade, Best Group, Best Duo, Scariest, Funniest/Silliest, Cutest and Best 5-minute Throw Together. The Monster Dash is indeed that! The race is a sprint and contenders are encouraged to challenge friends and family to see who is the fastest. Prizes will be awarded for fastest male and female 9 and under, 10-17 years old, and 18+. The newest activity is the Halloween Themed Bake-Off. This is open to amateur bakers of all ages. Entries must be homemade desserts and should be brought to the Turtle Wing office (723 Upton Avenue) to be judged. Prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, Tastiest and Most Creative. What would a Halloween carnival be like without trick-or-treating? No worries! as there will be plenty of spooky stops for kiddos to visit for treats in the Boo-Around-the-Block. Children in costumes are welcome to enjoy this between 5-6 PM. Pre-registration is requested for those who want to feature their business or organization at Boo-Around-the-Block and hand out goodies. Details may be found on the Turtle Wing Facebook page or by contacting the office at 979-505-5090. For those who don’t want to enter in one of these areas, there will be plenty of fun to be had for the whole family between 4-7 PM including a dunking booth with Community Helpers volunteering (police, VFD, and teachers!), a kid zone, music & food, photo booth and silent auction. The intention is to provide family fun and to bring our communities together to celebrate Jack’s favorite holiday! The foundation was founded in honor and memory of Jack Hooper who was diagnosed with high functioning autism at the age of 6. A lot of people didn’t know that about him. Most people just saw a happy, special little boy who was a little quirky. Jack unexpectedly passed away from an unknown virus just a month short of his 10th birthday. Last year over 300 children with academic, social-emotional, behavioral and/or developmental needs received direct support through Turtle Wing programming. Turtle Wing’s three programming areas are Early Intervention, Supplemental Services, and Community Education & Advocacy. The Monster Dash event benefits Turtle Wing Foundation which strives to help children with learning challenges in rural areas achieve their full potential. Program participants have all been from Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca and surrounding counties. For more information on the Monster Dash or the services provided by Turtle Wing please contact Susie Shank, managing director, at (979)505-5090, follow on Facebook @turtlewingfoundation, or visitwww.turtlewingfoundation.org.

Monster Dash Timeline:

3:30                 Bake-Off entry drop-off at Turtle Wing office (723 Upton Ave.)

4:00                 Most areas open:  Kid Zone, Happy Camper, Photo booth, Silent Auction

4:00                 Boo Around the Block set-up (pre-registration preferred)

4:30                 Bake Off judging begins

4:30-5:30         Jack Hooper Halloween Costume Contest entry window

5:00                 Bake Off Awards Announced

5:00-6:00         Boo Around The Block open for Trick-or-Treaters

5:30-6:30         Public can vote for Costume Contest winners

6:00                 Dash begins & Live Auction of Best in Show Winner

6:30                 Silent Auction bidding closes

6:45                 All contest winners announced