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Community Corner

YMCA Spooktacular Brought Chills and Fun

More than 1,000 children and parents turn out for eighth annual event.

More than 1,000 children and parents came out to enjoy the eighth annual Halloween Spooktacular at the Foglia YMCA in Lake Zurich last night.

The entire first floor of the YMCA was transformed into a haven of Halloween fun and madness. Children of all ages were dressed in costume and a few parents got in on the fun too. 

Chris Conrad and his six year-old daughter Maddie dressed up as the Incredibles."My wife loves to embarrass me, but it's all in good fun," said Conrad.

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A second grade Girl Scout troop from Mundelein took in the entertainment for the evening, Sean Masterson's Magic Show; a new addition to the Spooktacular.

"The kids are loving it, they are totally engaged," said Antonella Granito, Girl Scout troop leader. 

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Parents and children eagerly lined up for the two haunted houses. The "Ghostly Gaunt House" was the less scary of the two. Screams and cries could be heard from the inside of the "Lil Spooky House," considered the frightening one.  

Christian Kanzler worked inside the haunted house, jumping out at people as they walked by. "I've volunteered for four years and I like working in the haunted house because it's fun and I get to do it with my friends," said Kanzler, a 12 year-old volunteer.

The temporary tattoo table was popular. Older children applied their own Halloween themed tattoos. The Patch.com table offered kids a pumpkin to decorate, a Halloween picture to color in, and a helium filled balloon. 

If the candy didn't satisfy anyone's sweet tooth, the bake sale did. Cupcakes, taffy apples, brownies, cookies, and bottled water were donated and all the proceeds go to the preschool at the YMCA. 

"This year everything is gone and it was a successful event, better than last year," said Ty Soldano, preschool director.

The book sale, sponsored by Scholastic Books, also benefits the preschool. 

"This was our first year at the Spooktacular and sales were fantastic," said Angie Schroedel, volunteer. 

Lake Zurich High School volunteers manned various games such as Bozo buckets, bean bag toss, and bowling. Each child was rewarded with a few pieces of candy for completing the games.  

Some children crawled through the inflatable caterpillar and took a moment out to relax at a table and eat a hotdog, chips, and a bag of popcorn, included in the $10 per family admission price.

"Paying $10 for all that you get is a great value and it's in your own backyard," said Cathy Bayer, parent. "Everything was age appropriate and I liked that the Y had teenagers volunteering because it sets an example for my kids."

Those that headed outside got a chance to run through the straw hale bale maze and jump in the moon bounce. For an additional cost children could take a pony ride and enter the petting zoo to pet a baby lamb or goat.

"I liked the bouncy house, playing games, and the popcorn," said Cash Bayer, 5-year old Hawthorn Woods resident, "I'll come back next year, but I won't go in the haunted house."

A tractor, driven and donated for the evening by YMCA board of director's secretary, Bob Achille, took children and their parents on a haunted hayride.

To remember the fun evening, families had the opportunity to get their pictures taken together.

"I'm so happy with how the night went, it makes all the hard work beforehand worth it," said Bonnie Caputo, senior program director.

The new additions to the Spooktacular this year were the straw hay bale maze, petting zoo, hay ride, and magician.

"We switched things up a bit this year and it's paid off because there were a ton of people here," said Susan Dillon, co-chair of the Spooktacular event. "This is our biggest event where we open our doors to the entire community and it is so much fun."

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