Saw these two around Batavia last night. Any idea who they are?

There are 215 carved pumpkins in front of the home of Julie Allein, but that's just the introduction to a haunted house that has been scaring the bejeebus out of kids and adults alike for nearly two decades.

"It's all about the fright," says Allein.

Her barn is converted into two stories of horror show, with carved up body parts, cadavers and sculls and a ghoulish funeral that features a dead Michael Jackson as a guest.

Amazingly, it takes Allein and her family only about a month to prepare for the Halloween haunt, and that includes each of the 215 carved pumpkins, gutted by her mother-in-law and cut by Allein. Each one has a unique design.

She might not start the work until early October, but "the mind's always turning" she says, and she tries to think of ways of improving on the previous year's effort.

"It’s grown throughout the years, adding a bit here in there, but probably the last five years we can’t grow any more, so we just change it every year," Allein said. "This year, we made a real casket. It’s a lot of fun."

The Allein's haunted barn is located at 8894 Boyce Road. It will be open Halloween evening and admission is free.

Top photo, courtesy Julie Allein.

Mark Fry started turning their barn into a horror of haunts about three years ago just to scare their kids, but as more and more people stopped by, they kept adding to the show.

"This is the biggest yet, 11 rooms," Fry said. "Everybody this year tells us, keep it going. We were going to shut it down, because last year we had about 40 (visitors) but this year we’ve probably already had over 200 come."

And those are 11 pretty scary rooms, filled with more than a dozen local actors portraying everything from ghouls to flesh-eating surgeons.

If you don't get a little jolt of fear before the tour is over, your heart isn't beating.

The haunted barn on Alexander Road (Route 98) is free, and Friday night was going to be the last show, but on the spot last night, Fry and his wife decided to open for three more hours, from 3 to 6 p.m., on Saturday.

It's hard to close a good show.

The staff at Bank of Castile/Tompkins Insurance on Main Street in Batavia are having some Halloween fun today. The top three floors are decorated with various Disney scenes and most of the staff is dressed appropriate to the theme on their floors. Groups of children from the YMCA are visiting throughout the day receiving treats as they visit Batavia's own Disneyland.

My children and I went to the "Haunted Barn" on Hwy 98 between Batavia and Alexander last night and had a blast!  The barn has been fully converted into a haunted house with several themed rooms and many actors to enhance the experience.  I believe it will be open next Friday and Saturday nights, and I highly recommend it!  If I say any more it will spoil the fun, so go and get scared!

Saturday night we were going past the Batavia cemetery.I think there was a ghostwalk.We went and looked in the mausoleum.It is rarely ever open.Its pretty creepy in there.

We went down watson to see the decorations.They look more scary at night.

Historic Batavia Cemetery Ghost Walk, Candlelight Tour

I volunteered at the ghost walk tonight and it was a great time.  There is going to be another one next Saturday Oct, 24th at 7:00 pm. It's located on Harvester Ave.  Tickets are $10. in advance or $15. at the gate.  It's really worth checking out.  Great fun for the whole family.

Friday Oct. 16 6-10p.m. at Darien Lake Theme Park you can experience the "spooky" side of the park. Open Sat. noon-10p.m. and Sun. noon-8 p.m.

Friday night Bingo at St. Mary's Church. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. game begins at 7:30 p.m. Split pots, progressive pot, raffles and food available. All proceeds benefit the children of St. Joseph School.

Friday night there is a Ghost Walk at the Engine House in Batavia. Learn about Batavia's dark side. Guided tours led by cloaked guides with laterns. There are two tours, 8 p.m. and 8:30 pm. Reservations required. The cost is $10-20. Call 585-344-2550 ext. 2613

Saturday there is a Halloween Candlelight Cemetery Tour at the Batavia Cemetery. Cost is $10-20. For more information call, 585- 343-0248

Saturday is the Holiday Hollow Halloween and Pirate Festival in Corfu from 11-5p.m. Click here for more info.

Saturday the 10th annual GCASA Awards ceremony is being held at the Holiday Inn at 6:30 pm. Cost is $30.

Sunday at the Stewart Steiner Theater, "Colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" by Ntozake Shange will be showing at 7:30 pm. Cost is $8 for adults, $5 for students, GCC Faculty and senior citizens $3.

Come support the Batavia Area Jaycees by dining at Pizza Hut from 4:00pm - 8:00pm (or take out during these hours).

Money raised from this event will be used to off set the cost of the Oct. 25, Halloween Parade.  Details on parade: http://geneseeny.entrexp.com/documentview.asp?docID=850

Its simple to do, just bring a copy of the form when ordering/paying!

Any questions, please contact the Jaycees at 585-343-5775 / batjcs@wnynet.net

Link for the form needed:
http://geneseeny.entrexp.com/documentview.asp?docID=849

SPONSORED BY: 

The Batavia Area Jaycees, GCASA, Batavia Youth Bureau, and Oliver’s Candies

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009: Line Forms at 12:45pm, West Side of Genesee Country Mall/City Centre (near Dan’s Tires)

Small Children MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

~Wagons or sleds strongly suggested~

PARADE BEGINS AT 1:00PM

Parade route begins on the west side of the Mall near Dan’s Tires

**NO RAIN DATE, Listen to W.B.T.A. for Cancellations by 11:30am

The First 100 Children 10 & under IN COSTUME ONLY will receive a special free gift!!!

Popcorn and other goodies for kids (IN COSTUME ONLY) at end of parade compliments of the Batavia Area Jaycees

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL 585-345-6420

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

TOWN OF OAKFIELD PARK EXPANSION

HALLOWEEN PARTY

**RAIN OR SHINE**

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009 FROM 1:00-4:00 PM

ELROY D. PARKINS (LITTLE LEAGE) PARK

DRAKE STREET, OAKFIELD, NY

COME JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN!!

1.   CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE

2.   BOBBING FOR APPLES

3.   FACE PAINTING

4.  HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN PATCH PHOTO BOARD (BRING YOUR CAMERAS)

5.   PARK DEDICATION

6.   TOWN SCAVENGER HUNT WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED

7.   MUSIC BY DUCK ‘n COVER (weather permitting)

CHILDREN WISHING TO BE IN THE PARADE SHOULD ARRIVE AT 12:45; PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED ACCORDING TO AGE CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:  0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  They will parade around the park. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.  A FREE hot dog and drink will be provided for each child.  Parents/Guardians may purchase hot dogs with a drink for $1.50 each. 

Each child will receive a complimentary “goodie” bag.

 Contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Haacke at 585-948-5835 ext. 1 or www.townofoakfieldny.com  for further information.

TOWN OF OAKFIELD PARK EXPANSION

HALLOWEEN PARTY

**RAIN OR SHINE**

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009 FROM 1:00-4:00 PM

ELROY D. PARKINS (LITTLE LEAGE) PARK

DRAKE STREET, OAKFIELD, NY

COME JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN!!

1.   CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE

2.   BOBBING FOR APPLES

3.   FACE PAINTING

4.  HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN PATCH PHOTO BOARD (BRING YOUR CAMERAS)

5.   PARK DEDICATION

6.   TOWN SCAVENGER HUNT WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED

7.   MUSIC BY DUCK ‘n COVER (weather permitting)

CHILDREN WISHING TO BE IN THE PARADE SHOULD ARRIVE AT 12:45; PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED ACCORDING TO AGE CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:  0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  They will parade around the park. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.  A FREE hot dog and drink will be provided for each child.  Parents/Guardians may purchase hot dogs with a drink for $1.50 each. 

Each child will receive a complimentary “goodie” bag.

 Contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Haacke at 585-948-5835 ext. 1 or www.townofoakfieldny.com  for further information.

TOWN OF OAKFIELD PARK EXPANSION

HALLOWEEN PARTY

**RAIN OR SHINE**

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009 FROM 1:00-4:00 PM

ELROY D. PARKINS (LITTLE LEAGE) PARK

DRAKE STREET, OAKFIELD, NY

COME JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN!!

1.   CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE

2.   BOBBING FOR APPLES

3.   FACE PAINTING

4.  HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN PATCH PHOTO BOARD (BRING YOUR CAMERAS)

5.   PARK DEDICATION

6.   TOWN SCAVENGER HUNT WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED

7.   MUSIC BY DUCK ‘n COVER (weather permitting)

CHILDREN WISHING TO BE IN THE PARADE SHOULD ARRIVE AT 12:45; PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED ACCORDING TO AGE CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:  0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  They will parade around the park. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.  A FREE hot dog and drink will be provided for each child.  Parents/Guardians may purchase hot dogs with a drink for $1.50 each. 

Each child will receive a complimentary “goodie” bag.

 Contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Haacke at 585-948-5835 ext. 1 or www.townofoakfieldny.com  for further information.

TOWN OF OAKFIELD PARK EXPANSION

HALLOWEEN PARTY

**RAIN OR SHINE**

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009 FROM 1:00-4:00 PM

ELROY D. PARKINS (LITTLE LEAGE) PARK

DRAKE STREET, OAKFIELD, NY

COME JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN!!

1.   CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE

2.   BOBBING FOR APPLES

3.   FACE PAINTING

4.  HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN PATCH PHOTO BOARD (BRING YOUR CAMERAS)

5.   PARK DEDICATION

6.   TOWN SCAVENGER HUNT WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED

7.   MUSIC BY DUCK ‘n COVER (weather permitting)

CHILDREN WISHING TO BE IN THE PARADE SHOULD ARRIVE AT 12:45; PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED ACCORDING TO AGE CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:  0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  They will parade around the park. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.  A FREE hot dog and drink will be provided for each child.  Parents/Guardians may purchase hot dogs with a drink for $1.50 each. 

Each child will receive a complimentary “goodie” bag.

 Contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Haacke at 585-948-5835 ext. 1 or www.townofoakfieldny.com  for further information.

TOWN OF OAKFIELD PARK EXPANSION

HALLOWEEN PARTY

**RAIN OR SHINE**

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009 FROM 1:00-4:00 PM

ELROY D. PARKINS (LITTLE LEAGE) PARK

DRAKE STREET, OAKFIELD, NY

COME JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN!!

1.   CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE

2.   BOBBING FOR APPLES

3.   FACE PAINTING

4.  HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN PATCH PHOTO BOARD (BRING YOUR CAMERAS)

5.   PARK DEDICATION

6.   TOWN SCAVENGER HUNT WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED

7.   MUSIC BY DUCK ‘n COVER (weather permitting)

CHILDREN WISHING TO BE IN THE PARADE SHOULD ARRIVE AT 12:45; PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED ACCORDING TO AGE CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:  0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  They will parade around the park. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.  A FREE hot dog and drink will be provided for each child.  Parents/Guardians may purchase hot dogs with a drink for $1.50 each. 

Each child will receive a complimentary “goodie” bag.

 Contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Haacke at 585-948-5835 ext. 1 or www.townofoakfieldny.com  for further information.

TOWN OF OAKFIELD PARK EXPANSION

HALLOWEEN PARTY

**RAIN OR SHINE**

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009 FROM 1:00-4:00 PM

ELROY D. PARKINS (LITTLE LEAGE) PARK

DRAKE STREET, OAKFIELD, NY

COME JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN!!

1.   CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARADE

2.   BOBBING FOR APPLES

3.   FACE PAINTING

4.  HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN PATCH PHOTO BOARD (BRING YOUR CAMERAS)

5.   PARK DEDICATION

6.   TOWN SCAVENGER HUNT WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED

7.   MUSIC BY DUCK ‘n COVER (weather permitting)

CHILDREN WISHING TO BE IN THE PARADE SHOULD ARRIVE AT 12:45; PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED ACCORDING TO AGE CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:  0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  They will parade around the park. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult.  A FREE hot dog and drink will be provided for each child.  Parents/Guardians may purchase hot dogs with a drink for $1.50 each. 

Each child will receive a complimentary “goodie” bag.

 Contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Haacke at 585-948-5835 ext. 1 or www.townofoakfieldny.com  for further information.

I happened down Watson Street today and found this house and yard all decked out for Halloween. I hope this bodes well for how many trick-or-treaters we'll get in our neighborhood this year. It's been a long time since Billie and I lived in a neighborhood with a lot kids and trick-or-treaters.

Here it is folks: Rolling Hills Paranormal Research Center—the tour! A three minute walk through the dank dark corridors and rooms of the old Genesee County Home. All of the sound is natural sound: audio picked up from the walk, which is why you will hear the photographer, Sonia, asking after the ghosts from time to time. As I said, we didn't run into any.

Sonia, however, picked up a few "orbs" on camera. What's an "orb," you ask. Well, orbs are supposed to be floating spirits that get picked up on camera when you take pictures. Not every floating ball of light is an orb, however. Sometimes it's just dust, says Lori Carlson, owner of Rolling Hills.

We'll leave it up to your discretion if you want to believe these blips of fuzzy light to the right here are spiritual orbs or just some dust motes that got too close to the lens.

You'll hear in the beginning of the video when Sonia says that she caught an orb on the window. That photograph is below, as well as another photograph taken a few seconds before with the orb in a different spot.

Anyhow, all orbs aside, Rolling Hills was a fascinating space, and I had no need of talking ghosts or ghost shapes to find the place eerie and disquieting and interesting, especially as an historic artifact. If you haven't already heard Lori talk about the history of the place, make sure and do that. This building has a lot of stories to tell, and you don't necessarily need ghosts to tell those stories. Some of the rooms speak well enough on their own.

Enough of my babble. Let's get to the show...

Here are those other orb pictures:

Don't forget! The Candlelight Cemetery Ghost Walk that was originally planned for this past Saturday at the Batavia Cemetery was rescheduled to tomorrow, so you still have one last chance to get out and meet the ghost of William Morgan, among others.

For those who missed it a couple weeks back, here's the video with all the info:

Here it is, our penultimate video in the countdown to Halloween:

This is the first of two videos on my recent visit to Rolling Hills Paranormal Research Center in East Bethany. Rolling Hills is the site of the old Genesee County Home, former "poor house," home for the "insane," and nursing home. In this video, Rolling Hills owner Lori Carlson gives us a brief overview of the facility, its past inhabitants and its current inhabitants... that latter would be the ghosts.

Tomorrow, we hope to get up the second video, which will consist entirely of footage from my tour of the facility between the hours of 11:00pm and 3:00am. While I wasn't fortunate enough to stumble into any ghosts, I got some great shots of an eerie, disquieting and utterly fascinating space.

In the meantime, let's learn a little about this place...

Be sure to check out part one of our Halloween countdown, posted yesterday: Cooking with the Dairy Princess: Halloween Special (Jell-O Eyeballs).

16th Annual Halloween Parade!

Sponsored by Pontillo's Pizzeria, The Batavia Area Jaycees, Batavia Youth Bureau, Big Buddy, and Oliver's Candies.

SUNDAY - OCTOBER 26, 2008

Line forms at 12:45pm on the West Side of the Genesee Country Mall/City Centre, near Dan's Tire.

Small Children MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT
~Wagons/Sleds strongly suggested~

Parade will begin at 1:00pm
**no rain date - listen to WBTA 1490AM for cancellations by 11:30am

NEW: The first 100 Children (10 and under) in COSTUME ONLY will receive a special free gift!

Slice of Pizza and Cider for kids (IN COSTUME ONLY) at end of parade compliments of Pontillo's Pizzeria

For more information call 345-6420.