The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Haunted Schoolhouse kicks off today
The Westmoreland Historical Society will present its 5th annual Haunted Schoolhouse .
WESTMORELAND, N.Y. >> The Westmoreland Historical Society will present its 5th annual Haunted Schoolhouse.
Every Halloween, the Historical Society opens up their Historical Room for trick- or-treating and games for small children. Out in the famous one-room schoolhouse, there will be thrills and chills for all ages as we welcome the community into our “Haunted Schoolhouse.”
The event kicks off Thursday, Oct. 31 and runs from 5 to 7 p.m.
This year, the Haunted Schoolhouse will feature improvisational performances by Hannah DeStefano, an actress who recently featured in the Wilde Theatre Rep’s production of “Macbeth,” and will soon appear in Utica College’s “Urinetown.”
“I’m excited to be a part of something that’s an allaround good fun, free, and safe thing for community members,” DeStefano, a theater major at UC said.
“I’m also excited about how much artistic freedom I’m
being given on this project. I hope everyone has fun.”
This year, the Community Bank of Westmoreland will be sponsoring the event. Residents can read more about it on the social media page Facebook.com/ WestmorelandHistoricalSociety
The center of Halloween activities in Westmoreland is the Volunteer Fire Department’s annual parade and costume contest.
At 4:30 p.m. kids begin lining up in the Village Green for a procession that begins sharply at 5 p.m. and ends at the fire station (across the parking lot from out Historical Society) with candy, hot chocolate, cider, donuts, coffee, and the costume judging.
“Last year we had around 100 kids,” Firefighter Rodney VanBenschoten said. “It’s for families to enjoy and a way to give back to the community. This fire company has always been a big factor in town events, and we love the community we serve.”
Waylan Wilczek is the organizer for Fire Dept.’s annual event and you can read more about it at Facebook. com/WestmorelandFire
While all this is going on, the Westmoreland Community Church onMain Street will be having their “Trunkor-Treat” event.
“I believe this is our 6th year,” church member Karen Mathis said. “We have well over 100 kids each year, and we absolutely love it.”
Mathis said she believes that the Trunk- or-Treat event is a great way for her church to be part of the community and give both parents and kids a fun and safe place to come.
“Besides the kids’ excitement and laughing, smiling faces, we love when the parents make comments about how great it is that we do it and how they look forward to it every year,” she said.
All of these events are offered free to the community, and there is plenty of parking at the Town Hall on Station Road in Westmoreland. Formore information, contact Westmoreland Historical Society president, Ron Klopfanstein at 315886-2665.