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Real horrors may dampen Halloween
By SHERYL KAY
© St. Petersburg Times, Since its inception in the fifth century B.C. in Ireland, Halloween has undergone many transformations.
This year some will alter their celebrations once again, as they attempt to find a release from the very real horrors of Sept. 11, while at the same time providing their children with a safe and fun holiday. "This year we're staying close to home, and we're not going to any malls," said Dana Klaas, 33, who is raising two young boys in Westchase. "In the past I wouldn't have felt scared about going to big parties, or other neighborhoods for trick-or-treating, but this year we are only going to homes we know." Like many, Klaas grew up with a different kind of Halloween. "My parents had no qualms about letting us go out after dark," she said. "All we had to do was spread the candy out on the floor when we got home, and throw away the stuff that wasn't wrapped." This year, she says, "We're not going to any places where large amounts of people will be gathering. We're scared we could be bombed." Angel Valdez, 31, also is making changes in her family's celebration. "We used to go to go all out in the front yard, with the ghosts hanging in the trees, skeletons and coffins," said the Citrus Park mother of two. "This year we're going to tone it way down for the kids because we don't want to scare anybody." It's a balancing act, she says, because "I don't want to throw out Halloween altogether. "The fun still needs to be there. . . . They need a sense of normalcy but nothing that would frighten them." Others insist this year's Halloween will be no different from any other. "We're just going to stick to the same homes where we know people, and we'll check the candy like we always do," said Jan Sandelli, 42, a mother of three in Tampa Palms. "You just don't want to create hysteria. You should be aware of your surroundings, but not so that you should be afraid to go outside and do your normal activities." Local businesses have seen a few minor changes, but overall, it seems the holiday is going to be observed as usual. "We do see people coming in with a real positive attitude," said Cameron Diaz, owner of Party City in Carrollwood. "Everyone wants to get out with the family and bring a little laughter and enjoyment into their lives." While Diaz noted that in the past few years guns have dropped in popularity, there has not been any additional decline this year. "We're selling a lot more firemen, policemen, and soldier type costumes, and we're also selling a lot more merchandise with the pop star look," he said. "The kids are looking up to their heroes." At M & P Costumes, also in Carrollwood, customers have shied away from the traditional blood and gore of the holiday. "Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty were big sellers for us this year but unless we get in a new shipment, we've been out of those since the day after the attack," said owner Louise Sobel. Demand for Middle Eastern costumes has been nil. "Usually we do get a lot of calls for Arab Sheiks or belly dancers, but this year we haven't gotten a one," Sobel said. "Not to worry, though-we'll rent a ton of them at Christmas because that's the traditional garb of the nativity scene." Those who are looking to augment or replace door-to-door trick-or-treating will find plenty of parties and festivals as alternatives. (See events listings on Page 3). Hillsborough County senior recreation specialist John Brill said many of the county parks will hold individual parties just as they have in past years. "We haven't scrubbed any events, so people should check with their individual recreation centers to see what's planned," he said. "We're hoping the kids will come out and have a good, safe Halloween." The Carrollwood Baptist Church, at 5395 Ehrlich Road, plans its annual Harvest Festival from 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween with games, a moonwalk, and a candy give-away. The event is free and open to the public. "Actually we're making it larger this year because we want to attract more people," said Robin Singleton, the church's administrative assistant. "We're very safe anyway, so we don't feel the need to have any more security." At the Bob Sierra Family YMCA, the annual Phantom Festival will include three different celebrations on Saturday: one for preschoolers, a carnival for ages 6 through 12, and a sleepover, all open to members and non-members. "We've taken extra effort to stay away from any decoration or activity that would conjure up memories of what's been going on in the world, and we've also made sure we've dotted all of our i's and crossed all of our t's on our registration forms for the parties," said associate branch manager Laura Smith. "But this festival has always been geared toward a safe Halloween event, so nothing has really changed." At Skipper's Smokehouse, where entertainers Billy C. Wirtz and the Polyester Prophets will host the annual Freaker's Ball, managers say they have always taken precautions. "We do have parking lot security to make sure no one is breaking into cars and that everyone has a safe walk back to their cars, but we always do that for big shows," said manager Vicky Szempruch. "We don't feel we need to get crazy with security because we feel safe here. We've been doing this for so long, and we're a positive vibrations place." If nothing else, Halloween promises to be a welcome escape. "People want to get into fantasy now because the reality -- check it out -- the reality lately has been very harsh," Sobel said, "but the fantasy makes them smile."
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