Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Laurie Scott, the Spaghetti Surprise station master, beams with pride as 3-year-old Isabella Wawrzniak grabs a prize from the scary mess behind the board. Over 200 trick-or-treaters stopped in to take part in the Masons' Halloween party last Friday night. Over 200 ghosts. goblins, pirates, princesses, superheroes, a pizza, and even one TV set found their way to the 2nd annual Halloween party sponsored by Northfield's Masonic Lodge, DeWitt- Clinton #15 F&AM, last Friday night.

"This is actually the fifth year we have done something for Halloween," said Joe Morvan, the party committee's chairman. "For the first three years we just handed out candy in front of the lodge. But, Last year we decided to decorate our dining room downstairs and have a party atmosphere for trick or treaters passing by."

The festive atmosphere started outside the Masonic Temple with lots of pumpkins, stage smoke and "Greeters" in various costumes. Once inside, the party goers had to navigate a Hall of horrors that set the tone for the decorations and games in the now spooky main dining room.

"It is a cross between a haunted house and a Halloween party," Said Mr. Morvan. "We know we will get trick or treaters of all ages, so we wanted something for everybody," Jacob Humbert, of Overlook Drive was on hand escorting his two children Maya, age 6 and four year old Isabel. And he thought it was just right. " It's just spooky enough," he said. " They try to scare the older kids but don't try to frighten the younger ones. This is a wonderful event for children. It's our first time coming here, we had heard good things about it and it has exceeded our expectations," he said. Other parents were just as enthused about the event as well. " We love it. There is something for the older kids and there is lots for the smaller ones. We do a little door to door trick or treating, but this adds another dimension and a little bit more excitement to Halloween," said Chad Wawrzyniak as he watched his five year old daughter, Ellie try to capture a donut on a string without using her hands as her three year old sister, Isabella looked on with a quizzical expression.

Events like the Masonic Halloween party don't happen in a vacuum. There is a lot of ground work to be done in order to have a successful event. "We started planning about three months ago, said Joe Morvan, " We started setting up on Wednesday night. About a dozen volunteers decorated the inside on Wednesday and Thursday night and then late this afternoon we put out the outside displays and waited for the kids to arrive. They caught us a little unawares. They started arriving early this year." Said Mr. Morvan.

Some of those arriving came a long distance. Sian Nickson and her two sons James and Christian came all the way from England. The Nickson's are visiting and staying with Donna Farley on the Loop Road, and Sian wanted her sons to see how American's celebrate Halloween. "We don't have anything like this, she said. We have some pumpkins and a little trick or treating, but nothing on this scale." Her sons were thrilled with the party. "It's Fun, and everybody is friendly said Christian, who was dressed up as one of Robin Hood's men. His brother James appropriately dressed as a medieval Knight echoed the sentiment. " It's amazing, there's prizes and everyone is much more friendly," he said.

"I really want to thank Frank Hall, who is a brother Mason, and the other former committee members," Mr. Morvan said. "We were able to get lots of their props for a small donation because we are a non-profit organization." Local merchants and businesses as well as private citizens also contributed to the successful event. I really want to thank our sponsors," said Mr. Morvan. "Videos and more contributed boxes and boxes of prizes, Holub Excavating donated the corn stalks, Greyhound Rescue gave us a great price on our pumpkins, Aubuchon Hardware gave us lots of little things we needed to decorate like tape and string, Trans Video let us advertise for free, John Maloney donated all the hay bales and Diane Dickerson, the General Manager of Grand Union had the store provide the whipped cream for the pie toss." He also wanted to thank all the members of the lodge and their families who helped in all stages of the event. "If I start to list them, I'm afraid I'll leave somebody out, so I just better say thanks to all who participated," said Mr.Morvan from behind his scary greeter's mask.

It wasn't just the kids who had a good time. Northfield Mason Roy Scott, who was one of the targets for the pie throwing contest (and came to the party as Fred Flintstone), was able to put things in perspective while dodging plates filled with whipped cream. "I've worked with kids for years, especially in the Boy Scouts," he said as a plate full of whipped cream splattered on his plastic covered chest. "I really think it's as much fun for us as it is for the kids."