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Mamaroneck Children Spooked at Halloween Festival

MAMARONECK, N.Y. – Louise Cairns of Australia will celebrate her first Halloween while visiting her long-time mate in Mamaroneck, where she toured the 2011 Halloween Spooktacular's haunted house Sunday.

Cairns, who last visited the United States 10 years ago, made two trips through the old Hook and Ladder Firehouse on Mamaroneck Avenue, which housed ghosts, werewolves and village Mayor Norman Rosenblum in a casket. She went in with her friend Rosie's daughter Eva, 8, who got frighteningly close to a zombie.

"She hugged a zombie," said Cairns, who playfully nudged the Chatsworth Avenue School student into the zombie's arms.

Eva wasn't fazed, but the scary creatures and noises were too much for Mari Moerschen, who attends Daniel Warren Elementary School in Rye Neck. "I just cried a little bit," said Moerschen, who wasn't the only one scared by the creatures of the night.

"Next year we'll know the haunted house wasn't quite for us," said Mary Sykes, whose daughter Katy, 6, thought it was "too scary."

Katy buzzed happily around the Spooktacular in her bee costume said she preferred decorating cupcakes in the Tricks and Treats Korner across the street in the Christian Science Reading Room parking lot.

In addition to the arts and crafts at the Tricks and Treats Korner, Katy also enjoyed a book reading. Parked in front was the cartoon-clad Archie Comics minivan. Nancy Silberkleit, co-CEO of Archie Comics, said she handed out approximately 400 comics, including one to Beckett Alberts, of Mamaroneck.

"He just got into Spider-Man, Wolverine, and now we're getting into Archies," said his mother, Tricia.

Stephen Josephson, president of the Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce and owner of Toy Box, greeted people going into and coming out of the haunted house as Papa Smurf, while Carolyn Pomeranz led many of the tours.

"This is an all-volunteer effort, that's what makes it so special," said Pomeranz, who was thrilled to see lines for the haunted house wrap around the corner of Mamaroneck Avenue and Prospect Avenue. 

The events began at 11:30 a.m. with window painting, followed by the costume parade, which featured kids, parents and their pets dressed for the coming holiday. Children also had the opportunity to go trick or treating along Mamaroneck Avenue.

To conclude the evening, the Westchester Sandbox Theatre performed.

Did you attend any of the Halloween Spooktacular 2011 events? Comment below.

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