CHRIS KELLY staff Cassandra Berbon, 6, of Allentown (above) and her sister, Autum, 5, paint pumpkins while Laura Kelly, 17, dressed as a chainsaw maniac (below) gets a scare out of Victoria Dee and Noelle Jennings, 9, of Upper Freehold, during a visit to the Allentown High School Student Council’s Haunted House Oct. 29. ALLENTOWN – Those who dared enter the high school Oct. 29 filled the hallways with more shrieks and gasps than any math homework assignment could ever conjure up.
A crazy lady brandishing a chain saw and humongous fruit were just some of the ghoulish sights community members encountered during the Allentown High School Student Council’s Haunted House.
Student Council President Kristy Langione said the annual event for a good cause also adds some seasonal festivity to the community.
“I think the highlight of this event is always the little kids that show up,” Langione said. “They’re hysterical.”
She continued, “It’s always funny to see what they’ll do when one of us jumps up from a corner or somewhere. They either spit back some type of witty remark or try so hard to not let other people see that they just gasped.”
The Halloween hoopla helped the council raise awareness and money for The Valerie Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Maplewood that benefits children with cancer and blood disorders.
Alana Heifetz, the council’s public relations correspondent, planned this year’s event. She organized a group of high school students to concoct a theme, decorate and create a storyline for the tour guides to read to the kids in the Haunted House.
“Generally, Student Council kids decorate the rooms, but friends and other people that want to get involved always come to help,” Langione said. “The cafeteria also had to get set up [and is] where we had games, pumpkin painting, coloring, etc.”
The council has started planning its winter events and looks forward to community members enjoying the festivities at its Breakfast With Santa from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 8. There will also be a Snowball Dance, which will take place at the beginning of next year, according to Langione.
In addition, Student Council members encourage the community to give back during the Nov. 13 blood drive that is open to the public at Allentown High School, and to cheer on the Senior vs. Junior Powder Puff Game at 7 p.m. Nov. 20.
Langione said the council will also hold its annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny March 15, with its annual Mr. Allentown competition planned for April 4 and talent show scheduled for May 9.