A Haunting Good Time for All! Halloween events, plus UNNC Election.

1). WAHA'S FRIGHTFUL HALLOWEEN FEST

Sunday, October 28

3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Gramercy Park

Hear ye, all you little ghosts and goblins! And ghoulish grown-ups. Come one, come all, to the 2007 thoroughly frightful and fabulously fun West Adams Halloween Festival!

Just like last year's event, this year's Halloween Fest will be held in Gramercy Park on the Sunday just before Halloween. There will be fun games to play and sweets to eat, and we'll be grilling up those famous Wa-Hot Dogs. Especially for the kids, we are offering a Funhouse Bouncer with a climbing wall and slide in addition to a bouncing area. We will also have a petting zoo and pony rides, an old-fashioned popcorn machine, a piñata, and a visit from our local, friendly police officers.

New this year

the Monster Mash, a costume dance contest. So, put on your Halloween best, and shimmy on down! The festival promises to be a fun time for all ages!

For further information, contact Karen Woodward, karen.woodward@sdma.com.

2. HALLOWEEN AT THE SOUTH SEAS HOUSE

Wednesday, October 31

3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

South Seas House, 2301 West 24th St. (corner Arlington)

An afternoon and evening of spooks, thrills and fun for trick-or-treaters. Activities will include games, prizes, and ghoulish surprises. Come dressed in your Halloween best (ages 5 to 12) and win prizes for the scariest, funniest, most original, and prettiest costume. Contest begins at 5 p.m. Free. 323-373-9483.

3). UNNC ELECTION

Saturday, October 27
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jefferson Park Library, 2211 W. Jefferson Blvd. (Jefferson Park)

This coming Saturday, Oct. 27, the United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council (UNNC) is having its election for three Non Resident seats on the Governing Board.

One of the candidates for (re)election is Stevie Stern, a WAHA member who has been serving as UNNC's president.

You do not need to be a resident within UNNC's geographic boundaries to vote in this election for non-resident representatives, but you do need to be a "stakeholder." A eligible voter is anyone who is 14 years or older and lives, works, owns property, goes to school or church, or identifies themselves as a stakeholder in the UNNC community. That includes WAHA members, if you feel you have a stake in the present or future of "United Neighborhoods of Historic Arlington Heights, West Adams and Jefferson Park" communities.

This is a contested election, and not every candidate will win. Your vote will count toward the outcome! Visit www.unnc.org to review the Candidates' Statements (under the "election" tab) and please do take time on Saturday to vote.

4). HAUNTED HARVEST STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

Tuesday, October 30
3:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Old L.A. Farmers Market, Avenue 58 and N. Figueroa Street (Highland Park)

Just in time for Halloween! On Tuesday, October 30, We Tell Stories-the iconic, multi-ethnic children's storytelling theatre troupe-presents The Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival in a comfortable, lively setting that features fun for the whole family. All events are free. Farmer's Market hours are from 3-8 pm. Storytelling Performances run from 5-8 pm.

Since 1981, We Tell Stories has been bringing myths, legends, and literature from all cultures and times to life to schools and venues throughout Southern California. At this Festival, We Tell Stories will perform three 30-minute story-plays filled with the spirit of the fall season and Halloween. Performances begin when three actors arrive with a big trunk full of costumes and props. Audience participation is encouraged as kids are selected from the audience to don costumes and come up on stage to play an integral role in every performance.

The Old L.A. Farmer's Market will feature traditional Halloween festivities including Trick-or-Treating amongst the vendors, a super-scary Haunted House, a costume contest and face painting (are there any kids' events without face painting these days?) Plus a free raffle offers prizes including delicious Harvest Baskets filled with market offerings. Festivities also feature other forms of storytelling including acclaimed puppeteers from the Puppets & Players Little Theatre, folksingers, musicians, and more! Call 323-256-2336 or visit www.wetellstories.org for more information.

5). A HAUNTING GOOD TIME, ALL WEEKEND LONG

Saturday, October 27, and Sunday, October 28 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. (Mourning Tours)
7 p.m. (Halloween Movie Night)
Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer Street (Highland Park)

Bring the whole family to celebrate Halloween at Heritage Square Museum during the second annual Halloween and Mourning Tours program. Visitors will learn about the history of Victorian mourning practices in America during the early 20th century. Guests will visit a house in mourning, and learn about the origins of Halloween and the Victorian fascination with ghosts and spirituality. On Sunday only, children ages 2 to 12 are invited to come in costume, play period games, enjoy and make in 19th century harvest crafts, choose a pumpkin for the pumpkin patch, listen to spooky stories, and receive treats from costumed interpreters.

On Saturday evening, Heritage Square hosts a Halloween Movie Night, featuring classic Disney Halloween cartoons and the famous silent film "Nosferatu." The outdoor screening will take place on the lawn near the Palms Depot. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a small picnic, and warm clothing. Beverages, popcorn and candy will be available for purchase. $10.

General museum admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 years, and free for children under 6. Heritage Square Museum is located off the Avenue 43 offramp of the 110-Pasadena Freeway. 323-225-2700

6). SUBMIT YOUR NEWS

We welcome your contributions to the WAHA E-News and West Adams Heritage Association's monthly publication, "West Adams Matters." Please understand that we do have deadlines. Material for the print newsletter should be submitted no later than the 1st of the prior month (i.e.: April 1 for the May issue). If your event is scheduled for early in a month, we suggest you request coverage for the prior month (i.e.: May issue for a June 3 event), because it's entirely possible that not all of our members will have received their newsletter by then (we do try hard.) We reserve the right to edit submitted material. For the WAHA E-News, we prefer to only send it out once or twice a month. Please don't wait until two days before an event to let us know about it. It may not be sent out.

EXCEPTION

If you suddenly hear of an important city hearing or other public meeting that is important to West Adams, we will endeavor to send out a special bulletin.

Submit your material to Laura Meyers, editor, lauramink@aol.com.