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Moan If By Land, Boo If By Sea

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By SHERRI LONON

In The Loop

Published: October 16, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Visitors to the Land O' Lakes Community Center are invited to set sail on a cruise to terror this week as the annual haunted house makes its debut. Younger ghosts and goblins also can stop by for a trick or a treat at Spooky Street.

The Halloween events are part of a longtime community effort at the center, said Mike Walcott, center supervisor. Walcott has been involved in the haunted house and Spook Street for eight years. He said no one really knows how long the tradition dates back.

"This has been going on for years and years," he said.

"It's always been volunteer-driven."

For this year's haunted house, a team of about 20 volunteers, mostly high school students, has been working afternoons to transform a meeting room into a haunted cruise ship.

Another meeting room will feature Spooky Street, which will give younger children a chance to trick-or-treat in a safe place, he said. The room will be transformed into a plywood city of sorts, with youngsters visiting the "city," knocking on "doors" and receiving candy from puppets.

Land O' Lakes High School freshman Laura Lopez, 14, has volunteered two consecutive years. She said volunteering to put the haunted house together is fun, but so is having the opportunity to scare people.

"It's something to do and it's fun," Lopez said.

Chelsea Hauss, 14, also a Land O' Lakes freshman, said she's looking forward to the event and has been having a great time helping put it together.

"It's cool," she said.

Land O' Lakes sophomore R.J. Lombardo, 15, said he was interested in helping out to earn community service hours.

He also said the event appealed to him because "I want to scare people."

The haunted house will run 7:30 to 10 p.m. today through Saturday. Spooky Street is open 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Carnival-style activities and a disk jockey also will be on hand Friday and Saturday nights.

The events are free.
Walcott said it's not too late for volunteers to help out. The center always welcomes extra hands, and also gift cards to help pay for props and costumes for next year.

TO LEARN MORE

The community center is at 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd. For information about the Halloween activities, call (813) 929-1229.

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