AUBURN - The Booker T. Washington Community Center hosted its first Halloween Safe House on Friday for a fun and scary evening, with more than 50 children visiting the festively decorated “haunted rooms” to a free, fun-filled Halloween.
Children searched for goodies strategically placed in three decorated rooms as well as in the gym. If they came with a treat bag, it got a candy check.
Kizzy Mitchell brought her two daughters, Martina, 17 months, as a pumpkin, and Kasquana, 7, dressed as a princess.
Those coming in a little later found Alicia McLeod, the center's program coordinator at West Middle School, selling candy apples and drinks.
The children had an unexpected scare as fog machines set off the fire alarm and the Auburn Fire Department responded. Everyone went to the parking lot across the street until the smoke was cleared and people were satisfied that there was no fire.
The “Nightmare Before Christmas” room was decorated with that theme and featured the video. Middle and high school students in the Moravia program, coordinated by Christy Sodam, decorated it with pumpkins and spider webs. Eliza Johnson, 18, a junior at Moravia High School, put the last touches on the pumpkin decorations.
The “Thriller Room,” a haunted house decked out by the teens program. was scarier, with a Dead Sea scene and frightening fiends like Freddie and Jason to add a little excitement. Brandon Wakeham, 24, a program specialist with Booker T., said he was supposed to be a “Scary Dude,” and jumped out from behind a corner.
Moving past a couple of other frightening characters, Halloweeners found a Phantom piano player in a corner, playing a cobweb covered piano Taniya Williams, 10, of Syracuse, was the pianist.
The “Harvest” room was made for children who didn't want to be scared. Moravia teens made paper trees, a scarecrow, and brought in 30 pumpkins to decorate it and the “Nightmare” room.
In the gym, children bobbed for apples, danced the limbo, played Pin the Patch on the Pirate, and tossed rings at candles. McCuin Gould, who will be 11 on Sunday. took his Jason mask off to try the limbo - head first. He is a sixth grader at West Middle School.
From 7 to 10 p.m. D.J. Showcase, of Syracuse, played popular music with Halloween music mixed in. The game “Musical Monsters” was played with pictures of monsters pasted on the floor to sit on when the music stopped.
Tina Wilson, a facilitator for Child Health Plus in Auburn and Moravia, helped run the musical chairs game. West Middle students Melinda Frank, 11, and Lakeisha Deyo, 12; Seward Elementary student, Adriannah Whitaker, 9, and Genesee Elementary's Zynita Duddley, 7, were among those having fun with musical chairs.
Staff members all captured the Halloween spirit as well. Debbie Kufhta, who works with Explorers, a group of 5- to 7-year-olds after school, was dressed as a princess, while Colleen Warter, of Child Health Plus, came as a hippie.
A costume judging contest conducted by Anita Whittaker, separated the contestants into teens and pre-teens. Judges, who were site coordinators and Monique Wright-Williams, executive director of Booker T. Washington Center, chose the best costumes.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Kizzy Mitchell brought her two daughters, Martina, 17 months, as a pumpkin, and Kasquana, 7, dressed as a princess.
Those coming in a little later found Alicia McLeod, the center's program coordinator at West Middle School, selling candy apples and drinks.
The children had an unexpected scare as fog machines set off the fire alarm and the Auburn Fire Department responded. Everyone went to the parking lot across the street until the smoke was cleared and people were satisfied that there was no fire.
The “Nightmare Before Christmas” room was decorated with that theme and featured the video. Middle and high school students in the Moravia program, coordinated by Christy Sodam, decorated it with pumpkins and spider webs. Eliza Johnson, 18, a junior at Moravia High School, put the last touches on the pumpkin decorations.
The “Thriller Room,” a haunted house decked out by the teens program. was scarier, with a Dead Sea scene and frightening fiends like Freddie and Jason to add a little excitement. Brandon Wakeham, 24, a program specialist with Booker T., said he was supposed to be a “Scary Dude,” and jumped out from behind a corner.
Moving past a couple of other frightening characters, Halloweeners found a Phantom piano player in a corner, playing a cobweb covered piano Taniya Williams, 10, of Syracuse, was the pianist.
The “Harvest” room was made for children who didn't want to be scared. Moravia teens made paper trees, a scarecrow, and brought in 30 pumpkins to decorate it and the “Nightmare” room.
In the gym, children bobbed for apples, danced the limbo, played Pin the Patch on the Pirate, and tossed rings at candles. McCuin Gould, who will be 11 on Sunday. took his Jason mask off to try the limbo - head first. He is a sixth grader at West Middle School.
From 7 to 10 p.m. D.J. Showcase, of Syracuse, played popular music with Halloween music mixed in. The game “Musical Monsters” was played with pictures of monsters pasted on the floor to sit on when the music stopped.
Tina Wilson, a facilitator for Child Health Plus in Auburn and Moravia, helped run the musical chairs game. West Middle students Melinda Frank, 11, and Lakeisha Deyo, 12; Seward Elementary student, Adriannah Whitaker, 9, and Genesee Elementary's Zynita Duddley, 7, were among those having fun with musical chairs.
Staff members all captured the Halloween spirit as well. Debbie Kufhta, who works with Explorers, a group of 5- to 7-year-olds after school, was dressed as a princess, while Colleen Warter, of Child Health Plus, came as a hippie.
A costume judging contest conducted by Anita Whittaker, separated the contestants into teens and pre-teens. Judges, who were site coordinators and Monique Wright-Williams, executive director of Booker T. Washington Center, chose the best costumes.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.