The [Solve] Friday, October 31

Trusted to Deliver

Happy Halloween! In this week’s edition of The Solve, Charlie Belisle, Owner, CFO and Data Transformation Capability Lead shares how the team celebrates Halloween—from costumes and friendly competitions to local traditions and fall favorites. Featuring the story behind Anoka, Minnesota’s claim as the “Halloween Capital of the World,” plus recommendations for events, recipes, and spooky fun, it’s a festive look at the season—Logisolve style.

Halloween 2025 is here!

This year is on Friday which is always more fun (increased kids with no school the next day, better scary displays because you know you can scare more kids 😊. We like to celebrate Halloween at Logisolve. Below is our operations team in costume. We also have a friendly competition with our Leadership team on the best costume for Halloween this year. We will post the winner in the next Solve article.

Living in Minnesota and driving through Anoka, I’ve always wondered about the story behind the sign calling it the “Halloween Capital of the World.” A quick Grok (AI) search gave me the history below. I thought there might be more to it, but maybe it just shows the power of declaring what you believe.

“Nestled along the Rum River just 20 miles northwest of Minneapolis, Anoka, Minnesota—a quaint town of about 18,000 residents—has proudly worn the crown as the Halloween Capital of the World since 1937, a title cemented when a local 12-year-old newspaper boy, Harold Blair, declared it so during a trip to Washington, D.C., earning an official nod from Congress. This spooky distinction traces back to 1920, when frustrated city leaders, weary of rowdy pranks and vandalism on All Hallows’ Eve, organized the nation’s first community-wide Halloween celebration to channel youthful energy into fun rather than mischief—a tradition that has endured annually ever since, save for a wartime pause in 1942 and 1943. Today, Anoka transforms into a month-long spectacle of orange-and-black banners draping historic brick streets, featuring three grand parades (including the beloved Big Parade of Little People), costumed 5K races, haunted ghost tours through Oakwood Cemetery, a pumpkin weigh-off expo, and even a zombie bar crawl, all orchestrated by the volunteer-driven Anoka Halloween Inc. to foster community spirit while funding local scholarships and schools. What began as a practical solution to Halloween havoc has blossomed into a global draw, luring tens of thousands of costumed revelers each October to this unassuming Midwestern gem, where the air hums with seasonal magic and every corner whispers of witches, goblins, and timeless trick-or-treat joy.”

Halloween Activities in the Twin Cities

Always fun is the Jack O Lantern Spectacular at the MN Zoo. I have been a few times and recommend it.

https://mnzoo.org/jols-2025/

Although I have not attended, my kids have gone to ValleyScare and they recommend it. You will need to wait to next year if you haven’t already gone this year as it is typically select Fridays and Saturdays from September 21st through October 26th.

https://www.valleyfair.com/blog/2024/april/valleyscare-is-back-from-the-dead

Although I have not attended the Dead End Hayride, our one and only Kristine has gone and says it is awesome. She says to definitely pay the extra for the VIP to skip the crowds. You will also need to wait to next year if you haven’t already gone this year as it only goes through October 26th.

https://thedeadendhayride.com/

Scream Town is celebrating 21 years of fear! My daughter went this year with friends for her birthday and said they really enjoyed it. This one ends on Halloween so get ready for next year.

https://screamtown.com/

Fall Food & Cocktail Recipes

The Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage and Apples is one of my favorites. https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/stuffed-acorn-squash-sausage-and-rice-whole30-paleo/

Fancy Apple Cider Ice Cubes for Fall Drinks. Although I have not tried this cocktail, it was recommended by a friend. https://www.elizabethrider.com/fancy-apple-cider-ice-cubes-for-fall-drinks/

I hope everyone has an enjoyable, scary, and safe Halloween!!!

Explore Career Opportunities with Logisolve!

Looking for your next opportunity? At Logisolve, we have a variety of contract and contract-to-hire roles available across all our capabilities. If you’re interested or know someone who is, please reach out to us at referrals@logisolve.com. We’d love to connect! Logisolve offers medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, paid sick leave, and retirement benefits to eligible employees.

Delivery Lead

      • Proven experience with Epic Payer Platform (EPP) and related Epic modules.
      • Experience with healthcare data integration.
      • Hybrid, Eagan, MN (3 days a week)
      • Contract
      • $58.06/hr. W2, dependent on qualifications and experience

React UI Front-End Developer

Quality Assurance

      • 5 years of manual and automated testing experience in Custom Web application
      • Hybrid, Arden Hills, MN (2 days a week)
      • $60.00-$70.00/hr. W2, dependent on qualifications

Sr. Data Engineer

      • 10+ years of related experience
      • 5+ years of GCP, python, SQL, Big query experience a must
      • 6-12+ month contract-potential to convert-must, MN (4 days per week) work direct to Logisolve as a W2
      • Remote-highly prefer local to MN
      • $62.00-$75.00/hr. W2, dependent on qualifications

Sr. Project Manager

      • 10+ years of Project/Program Manager experience
      • Experience with complex data integration focused projects in the sales and marketing space.
      • 6+ month contract, likely extensions
      • Hybrid, Arden Hills or Maple Grove, MN (3 days a week)
      • $70.00-$85.00/hr. W2, dependent on qualifications