Ripon Animal Hospital in old historic Downtown Ripon was the “people’s choice” winner in the Ripon Chamber of Commerce Scarecrow contest.
Veterinary tech Ruth Webster was responsible for the Halloween display that filled the front window. The vote was done online by community members.
Second place honors went to Darryl Bartels of State Farm Insurance on Stockton Avenue and the third-place win went to Natural Wellness in the 300 block of West Main Street.  The fourth-place honor went to Dr. Allen Hoek and his wife Robin at his optometric facility at the corner of West Main Street and Wilma Avenue.
Both Hoek and Daryl Bartels have long been involved in volunteer work in the community having been members of the Ripon Lions Club for years.
Other Ripon businesses in the Halloween competition were Re/Max Executive, California Connections Academy, Ripon Chamber of Commerce, Tana Henderson, DDS; Bank of Stockton, Country Skillets, Ripona Parent Faculty Club and Bank of the West.
Topping off Halloween this morning in Ripon at 8:45 a.m.  is a parade of the entire Park View School student body on River Road that will be walking through the Chesapeake Landing neighborhood — an age-restricted community of people 55 and older — between Jack Tone Road and North Ripon Road.
To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.