This week, Jennifer Morris, Mona Bowen and Sarah Coronella of the Lunenburg PTO worked on some tombstones and other spooky props for the PTO Haunted House on October 27.

Story & photos by Samantha Bridgman

A tradition returns with many tricks and treats in store at this year's revival of the Lunenburg PTO sponsored Haunted House on October 27.

    The T.C. Passios gymnasium will be transformed into a ghoul's delight from 4 to 7:30 p.m. with entertainment and refreshments provided by various high school groups throughout the event.

    "We are so glad to be bringing the haunted house back after a five year hiatus. We are grateful that Superintendent Loxi-Jo Calmes made the facility available to us," commented PTO volunteer Mona Bowen.

    Planning and preparation for the haunted house began in September.

    "We saw a lot of new faces at the haunted house meetings.  Everyone was full of energy and fresh ideas," said Bowen.

    After the recent reconfiguration of the Lunenburg School System, a vacant T.C. Passios gave the PTO a way to revive the event and plenty of time to build a spooky masterpiece. More than 24 volunteers took part in physically creating the seven-room haunted house and many more in the community participated by donating supplies and vehicles for transporting props. The Lunenburg high School junior class did their part by donating spooky trees from their Homecoming parade float.

    "We tried to get as much donated or purchased at cost as we could," stated Bowen.

    The initial expenditures will be paid off over  a couple years as many of the materials are reusable. Numerous volunteers including Turkey Hill Middle School students have also stepped forward to don costumes and take active roles in haunting the event, spread out into rooms that include an Operating Room, Witches Corner and Madame La Rue's chamber.

    "We are ensured to have at least one adult in every room, and the student [volunteers] are so excited," said Bowen.

    She explained that while all age ranges are welcome in the haunted house at any time, there are two separate levels of spookiness planned for the evening. A "Casper" themed experience will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. and a more intense "Freddy Kreuger" experience is planned from 6 to 7:30.

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