Services offered: COVID-19 Disinfecting • Junk Removal House Clean-Outs • Shed Removal • Hot Tub Removal
No. 19 Vol. 8
www.mypaperonline.com • 973-809-4784 August 2023
800-939-JUNK
Haunted Randolph By Henry M. Holden e live in a world that has paranormal and supernatural events happening regularly, if you believe some people. There is the Jersey Devil who apparently wanders the Pinelands looking to destroy crops and commit mischief. The idea of doing a haunting type of event in Randolph Township has always been a thought that the recreation department had, but it was something they really didn’t have time to do. But the program and events coordinator had a major say in such matters. “It is my job to come up with events and make certain that they happen,” said Dr. Kristina Garlick. “We have a plan to offer a Haunted Walk at Veterans Community Park, along with ghost stories and a hayride. A mix of actors from Brundage Park Playhouse will be involved in the event (either scaring people or telling ghost stories), and volunteers from the high school. The high school volunteers will be the young people in the National Honor Society. They will be in the 14-18 age range, old enough to understand that they are “actors” in a play and nothing is real. “I think Halloween is a great fun holiday so I may have fast-tracked the idea a little,” said Garlick. “I thought the kids would have a lot of fun as well as fun for the adults.” To start having fun you will walk through a well-lit parking lot where as you get closer to the entrance, you’ll begin hearing Halloween music and maybe something spooky may happen. There will be orange and purple lights, and maybe some other colored lights depending on what’s available. You check in at the gazabo. Once checked-in you will have a choice of experiencing the Haunted Walk or going to the Haunted Stories segment. The Ghost Story segment will be told by an actor from the Brundage Park Playhouse, and
W
it will be a story about a New Jersey haunting. These two activities will be separated, and the visitor can visit each one. During the haunted walk, there will probably be anywhere from 10 to 20 people scaring other people. Many of the exhibits are being built by volunteers. “We have gravestones painted, and we are going to have an abandoned haunted campground. We’re going to have some skeletons and we’re going to have a number of things that the people can do. “We have a tractor with a skeleton getting run over, and a giant pumpkin person. “There’s going to be a werewolf cut out with some music in the background,” said Garlick. “People will say oh it’s just a cut out. Suddenly, we will spring a surprise. “We have a seven- foot coffin that somebody will be inside of, and probably dressed like a vampire. There will be a lot of practical effects this year, but no corn maze. There are quite a few special effects, also. A fog machine will be there and who knows who is hiding in the fog and a barrel that looks like a toxic waste dump. Be wary of the machine because there may be a surprise waiting within it. “The people can design their own costumes. There will be people dressed as ghosts, but we’re basically telling them to pick any horror character they want and put makeup on.” Garlick says this will be a family friendly event. “I wouldn’t bring a two- or three-year-old because there is some really scary stuff we’re doing. Maybe five or older if they can handle it, but I would rather leave that up to the parents. There will be no bad words or anything inappropriate. No one’s going to die, but there will be a lot of scary stuff. “As far as safety goes, there will be some extra staff on site to make sure that nothing breaks or is damaged. We’re going to have the Randolph Police there as well. We’ll keep
everybody safe. The only dark area may be the Haunted Walk but it’s not that big an area and we will have some body within a short distance of everybody so everything will be OK”. There will be a small fee (TBA). They hope to have a food truck at the event. The event will tke place on Friday, Oct. 27, 6:00pm to 10:00pm, and Saturday, Oct. 28, 6:00pm to 11:00pm, at Veterans Community Park, 100 Calais Road, Randolph. Sign up on Community Pass to preregister and save $3.00, www.randolphnj.org/371/online-registration.
NOW OPEN IN RANDOLPH EXPIRES: 9.15.23
EXPIRES: 9.15.23
RITA’S ICE OF RANDOLPH • 1176 SUSSEX TPK • RANDOLPH • 973-584-7482