Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 30, 1993 TAG: 9310300118
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With her eyes shut tightly, she grabbed onto her friends and screamed.
Minutes later, Brittany was still clutching the hand of fellow second-grader Lakeisha Morgan as the pair of little witches walked the halls of Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. A third witch and some other tiny, costumed creatures also hovered around Lakeisha.
"They're all scared," she said. "That's why they're holding onto me."
A little scared, maybe. But safe.
Hurt Park Elementary School students won't have to knock on strangers' doors looking for Halloween goodies this year, thanks to the Employees' Club at Shenandoah Life. Neither will students at Highland Park Elementary, who found their treats in Carilion Health System office buildings instead.
As part of their school-business partnership programs, the two companies threw "safe Halloween" parties for more than 600 students Friday. Employees at both companies decorated their offices and dressed in costume, handing out chocolate bars, Lifesavers and other candy.
At Shenandoah Life, students tumbled through an elaborate haunted house in the company cafeteria. They giggled at Penny Fulton, director of product support, who stood in her office doorway costumed as Fievel, the mouse from the movie An American Tail: Fievel Goes West - pulling string from her ears.
"We wanted the kids to have a safe place to Halloween," said Donna Musselwhite, a spokeswoman for Shenandoah Life.
So does Downtown Roanoke Inc. It's sponsoring a trick-or-treat party for children who are in third grade or younger at the City Market. Children will be able to collect snacks from area merchants and farmers this evening from 5 to 7.
The students from Highland Park delivered a treat of their own Friday.
Students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade made Halloween and "get well" cards for the patients at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The fifth-graders - dressed as their favorite animals - delivered them after a morning of trick-or-treating.
"I hope you all feel better," the children told a roomful of patients.
"I hope you all get a lot of candy tomorrow night," one patient replied.
One group of cats and mice from Susan Julian's class got to make a special stop at the room of a friend. The children delivered cards and a plant to Virginia Glass, the school's cafeteria manager, who had surgery three weeks ago.
"We miss you, Miss Glass," they told her.
"I miss you," she replied.
Musselwhite, who greeted students dressed as Princess Jasmine from the movie "Aladdin," said this is the third Halloween party Shenandoah Life has thrown for Hurt Park. Employees spent several weeks constructing the haunted house, which came complete with spiders, goblins, black crepe-paper streamers and a lot of screaming.
Carilion's Halloween party was its first, as well as the first event it has sponsored through the partnership it forged with Highland Park this year, Carilion spokeswoman Sally Ramey said.
The company took the opportunity to drop more than sugar-coated morsels into the children's sacks. Puzzled youngsters found tiny packs of Band-Aids among the SweetTarts and Butterfingers in their goody bags.
And at Shenandoah Life, employees handed a Reach toothbrush to the little Barneys, Miss Piggies and jack-o'-lanterns that spilled excitedly from their building.
"Eat your candy and then brush your teeth," Principal William Shepherd advised them.
by CNB