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Pasco Offers Plenty of Halloween Activities

Jessica Bair/SUNCOAST

Ron’s Halloween owner Don Surenkamp, who has been working for weeks to finish the Angelus Haunted House, adjusts the lantern held by the tree creature. Many of the props like these were donated from Surenkamp’s store. The house is billed as the first-ever wheelchair accessible haunted house in the area.

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By Jessica  Bair | The Suncoast News

Published: October 24, 2007

Updated: 10/24/2007 09:59 am

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Ghouls, goblins and gore take center stage this Halloween in West Pasco. Many frightening festivities offer thrill seekers a chance to be spooked this weekend.

The Progress Energy Art Gallery, in downtown New Port Richey, promises "A Never B/4 Seen Halloween," its first ever Halloween party fundraiser, Oct. 27, 6 - 10 p.m.

Admission is $10 and guests are encouraged to come in costume. There will be prizes and games, food and drink.

In addition, the party marks the opening and closing of a "Never B/4 Seen Art" exhibit.

You can purchase tickets during the gallery's regular business hours, Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. or on the gallery's Web site.

The highlight of the party will be a performance of an old-fashioned radio play, "Gemma's Angel," written by a local pop artist, Ralph Annan.

Performed by mostly local people and some newcomers who are all new to radio play, the show promises to be a mysterious adventure for the audience.

"We have one professional radio personality who is also one of the pillars of our community," said the gallery's director, Karren Tolliver.

Jeannine Humphrey, who plays Gemma, "has a long radio career under her belt," Tolliver said. "She is helping us sound as professional as possible."

Other players include Jackie Pacimeo, Dawn Marmaduke, Kenneth Pacimeo, John Durler, Serge Flores, and Wes Trigger.

The play will be aired Sunday morning, Oct. 28, on 13 stations on Long Island, N.Y., with the possibility of airing locally.

All proceeds from sales will go toward the art and cultural center's operating expenses.

Copies of the CD, bearing cover art by the author, Ralph Annan, will be available for sale in the gallery, 6231 Grand Blvd., starting the day of the party.

Other horrifying highlights in the area include:

• The Angelus Haunted House, 12413 Hudson Ave., Hudson, billed as the first-ever wheelchair-accessible haunted house.

The house features themed rooms with demonic decor like the executioner's room. Many of the props are from Don Surenkamp, an event sponsor and the owner of Ron's Halloween.

For more information contact The Angelus House at 727-856-1775.

Admission is $7 per person, with all proceeds benefiting the group home for disabled children and adults. The house is open Oct. 26 through 31. Hours are Friday, Saturday and Halloween night, 6 p.m. to midnight, and the weekday hours are 6 - 10 p.m.

• "Murder & Mayhem at the Monster's Ball" is the annual Halloween murder-mystery at the Center Stage Theatre and Dance Academy, 5201 U.S. 19, in the Southgate Shopping Plaza, New Port Richey.

Audience members are invited to solve a crime as one of 20 cast members will be "murdered" as the ball starts. Shows are Oct. 26 and 28, 7 p.m. both days. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door.

The Halloween night show, from 6 to 10 p.m., includes a party with finger foods, goodies, games and a costume contest with $100 prize. Tickets for this show are $25 and must be purchased in advance at the box office in the lobby of the studio.

For more information call 727-815-0100 after 2 p.m. weekdays.

• Head on over to Terrortown Haunted House if you dare. The terr-ific adventure takes place at 7322 Abington Ave. in New Port Richey from Oct 27 through Oct. 31, open 7:30 to 10 p.m. daily. Admission is $3 donation per person. Contact Chuck Morris 727-372-3744 for more information.

• Shady Hills Park, 15840 Green Glenn Lane, in Shady Hills, will host a Halloween party in the park Oct. 26, 7 - 9 p.m. A children's haunted house, plus games and music will be featured. The event is free. Contact 727-856-7831 for more information.

• Ann's Dance Halloween Party will be held at the New Port Richey Recreation Center, 6630 Van Buren St., Oct. 26, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Call 727-841-4560 for details.

• Families may enjoy the Fall Festival and Halloween from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Family Life Center of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday. Bring a carved pumpkin for a contest or enjoy goods from a bake sale. The event is sponsored by the parish's youth and Faith Formation groups.

• The New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main St., invites children ages 1 through 6 to join a costume parade from the library to the adjacent City Hall on Oct. 26, 11 a.m. Little ghosts and goblins will model for a Web slide show and prizes will be awarded.

Contact Ann Scott at the New Port Richey Main Library, 727-853-1265 for more information.

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