By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY For many teens, Halloween is a time to don masks, replace meals with Reeses and Kit Kats and party at a fellow ghoul or goblin’s abode.
But for sophomore Robert Sipos, it’s the time to give back to communities, both local and abroad. For the last three years, Mr. Sipos has been turning his backyard into a Halloween fantasyland and folks have been gladly paying to brave the haunted trail on Saxon Way.
And his years of selfless efforts have not gone unnoticed.
At the request of his neighbor Guy Johnson, the Township Committee honored Mr. Sipos on Feb. 21 with a proclamation. With a few family and friends in attendance, Mayor Ed Trzaska presented the teen with plaque as a symbol of gratitude for his services and contributions to the community.
”His (Mr. Sipos) service to our community and compassion to those in need is an example to us all,” said Mayor Trzaska on Feb. 22. “It’s great to see young residents of Montgomery accomplish so much.”
What came to be an annual Halloween fundraiser, started out as a family pumpkin-carving event in 2009. However, he knew he was on to something the following day when he opened up his yard to the neighborhood children for free. It was so popular, Mr. Sipos decided to continue the tradition next year and give the money to a charity.
”It started out with just some neighbors and friends,” said Mr. Sipos. “But I wanted to do something better and larger for the community and the world.”
To do that, Mr. Sipos took on the role of making sure his haunted trail had a proper design layout, work plan, electrical grid, work crews, static displays, costumes and even advertising. With the help of classmates, his younger brother and sister and recruits of all ages, Mr. Sipos was able to make his idea a reality.
”We used all of our combined effort to make it a success,” he added.
In 2010, he raised $1,279 for the Central Asia Institute, a charity that builds schools in remote areas. The next year, his Halloween event yielded $2,056, which he gave to the Michael Robert Damato Memorial Fund, a local charity. In 2012, he added a hayride to the mix and raked in $2,117.
Mr. Sipos only has plans to keep making what seems to now be an annual tradition bigger and better. For 2013, folks can most likely expect an outdoor movie night.
The sophomore’s community service doesn’t end there. As a Boy Scout in Troop 46, he has also just completed his Eagle project at the Village Elementary School tot lot last summer.
Most recently, he participated in the Montgomery Cares organization and helped with the Hurricane Sandy cleanup in Highland.

