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Next victim, please

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2007

Zombie Jeff Comstock, 23, of Madeira Beach bides his time in a coffin with his mask on his head while waiting for his next victim in the graveyard of Field of Screams, a haunted trail through the woods featuring a cast of more than 30 characters at Boyd Hill Environmental Studies Area, 2900 31st St. S.

Comstock is a youth development worker at Gladden Park Recreation Center, and he had no idea what he signed up for when he volunteered to work the event. "They said to bring black clothes."

He didn't find out he was going to be among the dead until about a half an hour before he took his place in the grave. His training for the job consisted of just two instructions:

"Move slowly, and scare the kids," he said.

The St. Petersburg Recreation Department and the TASCO Teen Programs sponsored the event, along with Howl-O-Fest. It runs through today, and is open from dark until 10 p.m.

Howl-O-Fest has activities for all ages, including Wizard of Oz kids trail, arts and crafts, temporary tattoos, music, dancing, fire dance performers, a reptile show, inflatable games, a costume contest and trick-or-treating with free candy, $2. Additional activities include hayrides, $1, and rock climbing wall,$3.

The Field of Screams is $5 and may not be suitable for young children. For information, call (727) 892-5060.

[Last modified October 27, 2007, 23:58:51]