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clintonnews.com: Serving the city of Clinton, Mississippi

Costumes part of annual fun

By Amanda Wells
Special to The Clinton News

Melanie Thortis | The Clinton News

Five-year-old Ellie Scott and her sister, Emma Scott, 9, put on their best pirate face for the upcoming Halloween holiday. Ellie and Emma’s cousins will also dress as pirates this year for trick-or-treating fun.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

# Plan bright, reflective costumes. Make sure shoes fit and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

# Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility. Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider instead non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat.

# When shopping for costumes, wigs, and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.

# Think twice before using simulated knives, guns, or swords. If you must, make sure they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.

# Children and their escorts should use flashlights with fresh batteries. Plan ahead to use only battery-powered lanterns or chemical light sticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.

# Review with your children the principle of “stop, drop and roll” should their clothes catch on fire.

# Eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check for flowerpots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that are hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.

Despite the tough economy, parents are still purchasing Halloween costumes for their little goblins or making them by hand.

That’s the finding of Angie Hicks, founder of the consumer awareness Web site www.angieslist.com.

She finds many people spend between $25-$50 on Halloween costumes.

At Party City on East County Line Road in Jackson, the economy hasn’t spooked off customers.

“Sales are really good. They’re comparable to last year,” said co-owner Alice Harrigill.

“You hear more people saying that it’s going to be one night of having a little bit of fun. They’re looking forward to it.”

Party City’s big sellers for kids: Characters such as Cody and Rex from Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Hannah Montana; and Sharpay from High School Musical.

“The adults like the couples’ costumes, like Fred and Wilma, or the funny ones, like ‘The Freshman 15,’ ” Harrigill said.

She’s had to reorder the Star Wars characters already. “Darth Vader is still a huge hit, too, with the young boys,” she said.

Prices start at $9.99 and go up from there, with the average price at about $19.99, Harrigill aid.

Heather Head said she enjoys making costumes for her children - Jake, 5, and Elizabeth, 3 - and saving money in the process.

“I enjoy being creative, and my kids love the outcome,” said the Byram mom. “I don’t sew, but I have found that you can do a lot with a cardboard box.”

Head credits her husband Keith with contributing imagination and energy in making sure the boxes will withhold the wear and tear of harvest carnivals and trick or treating.

“Last year, Elizabeth was Sally from the Cars movie and Jake was Underdog from the Disney movie,” Head said. “I fashioned an empty Pull-Ups box into Sally, which required a lot of cutting, taping and stapling.

“For Underdog, I bought red sweatpants and sweatshirt, cut out a ‘U’ in white felt, found some blue fabric for a cape and purchased a dog mask.”

Sarah Broadus of Clinton coordinates costumes for her two daughters, Madyson, 2, and Aubrie Kate, 7 months, to match those of their cousins.

This Halloween, the Broadus girls will be pirates. Madyson is fascinated with Dora the Explorer’s Pirate Adventure, Broadus said.

“Halloween has always been a fun holiday around our house,” she said. “Instead of walking the neighborhood this year, we are going to do a hayride with a pirate ship theme.”

Adults in the family join in the fun by dressing up, she said. “Madyson’s first year, we all went as a litter of kittens,” Broadus said.

“I added fur to her costume that year, but as for sewing, I usually leave that up to my mother-in-law.”

Broadus appreciates the once-a-year whimsy that Halloween offers.

“How many days of the year can you walk around as a pirate, princess, bottle of mustard or a pumpkin and not feel out of place?” she said.

Staff writer Ruth Ingram contributed to this article.

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Post 40 of 100 of Brad’s Tiny World Scribefire Challenge.

It’s a spookfest | Hutchinson Leader

Submitted by Melissa Sullivan on October 16, 2008 - 6:00am.

Although Halloween is officially more than two weeks away, the annual spookfest will begin this weekend when the Hutchinson Jaycees and the Hutchinson Fire Department bewitch the public with their third annual Halloween Haunted House.

The Hutchinson Fire Department’s Training Facility west of the National Guard Armory has been transformed into a full press, scare-you zone from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18, 24-25. There’s a $1 discount off the $8 admission fee if you bring in a nonperishable food item for the McLeod Emergency Food Shelf.

According to Sandi Sportelli, co-chair of the Jaycees haunted house, every room is different from last year.

“We have very few things that are the same,” Sportelli said. “Only the graveyard and the maze remain from last year.”

The Jaycees took a much-needed catch-your-breath break after the June Water Carnival celebration, but by August Jaycees co-chairs Sportelli and Troy Sporting, and Fire Department chairman Jeff Shufelt were planning this year’s haunted house. They officially moved into the houses Saturday, Sept. 27.
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“It’s been a blast,” Sportelli said. “It’s been a good time for all of us to get together. It’s a good partnership with the Hutchinson Fire Department.”

If you go:
The Hutchinson Jaycees and the Hutchinson Fire Department Haunted House
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18, 24-25
Where: Hutchinson Fire Department Training Facility west of the National Guard Armory on Adams Street
Admission: $8 per person or $7 per person with a canned food donation to the McLeod Emergency Food Shelf.
Advisory: The haunted houses are not intended for children. Parental discretion advised.
Call: Troy Scotting at (320) 587-2163, or Sandi Sportelli at (320) 583-4382.

(Kay Johnson is a staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com)

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LJWorld.com / Unisex footwear is forever

Unisex footwear is forever
By Caitlin Donnelly
October 13, 2008

Caitlin Donnelly can be contacted at go@ljworld.com.

Advertisement

This fall, the freshest fashions are sleek and sophisticated, ageless and — amazingly — androgynous.

After all of summer’s focus on women sporting menswear — masculine vests, fedoras, neckties and suspenders — equal-opportunity footwear is a novel concept.

Check out this short list of retro footwear before hitting Mass. Street:

Frye boots

Cowboy boots ain’t just for cowboys. In the 1960s and ’70s, The Frye Co. reissued their Campus boot. It quickly became an American staple and, in part, its high-demand can be attributed to its time-tested, chunky heel and sleek aesthetic appropriate for men and women.

Wear it now: Warm days and cool nights are inevitable in the fall, and cowboy boots are the perfect autumnal accompaniment during this transition.

• Extend wear-time of summer dresses and shorts by slipping on a pair of boots with stockings or leggings.

• Dress down an ostentatious, expensive suit or dress for more casual gatherings or daytime activities with comfortable boots that give off friendly, hometown vibes.

Converse tennis shoes

Sports enthusiasts, hipsters and nerds unite. Converse has been pumping out shoes since 1908, and its ridiculously popular All Star tennis shoes are undoubtedly a wardrobe staple. The All Star was designed in 1908 as the company’s premier basketball shoe, but have evolved into a personality statement; sharp designs always give away the artsy, ADD college student, and grass stains and grungy scuffs point to the proud hard-worker.

Wear it now: Converse shoes are uni-sex, but never uni-season. These shoes can be worn in most temperatures.

• Again, dress down a fancy outfit with an unpredicted pair of shoes. For example, by lacing on a pair of All Star tennis shoes, women’s trousers and men’s fitted jeans look “in style” instantaneously.

Post 30 of 100 of Brad’s Tiny World Scribefire Challenge.

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Any politician who is worthy of holding the job of president of the United States has to be able to handle hard situations. Late night television isn’t one of those hard things. Sure you have to humble yourself and accept a few jokes made at the expense of your pride. Of course where does pride fall in the list of virtues good christians like McCain supposedly have? In another post titled Presidential Questions I made the other day Katie Couric asked when is it acceptable for the President to lie to the American people. John McCain says never and that he can’t even imagine a situation except in cases of extreme national emergencies. He talks about maintaining credibility. If it is good enough for the President, why isn’t it good enough for the presidential candidate? Watch the video yourself. Dave says McCain calls him and says sorry I have to get back to Washington. At the same time he said he couldn’t do Dave’s interview because he was headed back to Washington Mutual he is seen in the same studio fielding softball questions from Katie Couric. This Senator McCain was a lie to the American people, or is David Letterman, not American enough for you?

Senator McCain was your lying to David Letterman and ditching him for Katie Couric, the price we paid for her continuing the game of slow pitch with Sarah Palin? Was Katie asking you trivialities that you waffled around how she got the interview in the first place. It is time the both of you cream puffs stop playing like protected little girls and step into the real world, the one you say you not only want to lead, but have the experience to lead.

Will the debate go on? Craig Fergusun, my favorite angry Scotsman, hits the nail right on the head about this situation. As a newly naturalized citizen he gets what this country is supposed to be about. I hope once we stop trying keep people from coming to America we end up with a whole bunch more Craig Fergusuns. I do hope they leave their hagus or other regionally favorite innards stuffed with stuff at home when it comes to community potluck dinners.

In the end John McCain ditching David Letterman for Katie Couric was isn’t about the fact he did it. He could have called and said “I am on my way back to Washington, and have to cut a few interviews out. I’m sorry Dave.” Did he do that? No. John McCain got on the phone and lied, just like he has done through out his campaign. Remember if he is going to lie to the media while he is running his campaign, what can you expect him to do if he is actually elected president?

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The Williams sisters have been the reigning queens of women’s tennis for the last decade with good reason. They are ferocious when they take the court. like them or not, you have to give them their props for being great players. However, that time in the limelight is coming to an end I believe with astonishing speed. Just last night 15 year old Larcher de Brito of Portugal took Serena Williams to three sets and nearly beat her.

While this no doubt says something about the lovely and talented, and did I mention hot Larcher de Brito, I think maybe it says more about Serena Williams. At 26 Serena is certainly not an old player, but she just isn’t playing as hard as she used to. Even as the top rated women’s tennis player, Venus Williams, isn’t doing much better. They struggle where they used to pounce.

I have no doubt that the Williams sisters will still be on top for a few more years, but when a 15 year old qualifier can take them to task, I wonder what the new face of women’s tennis will look like. Unfortunately I know it won’t look like Anna Kournikova. We are going to be hard pressed to see one so hot for some time to come.

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Keli Goff: McCain’s Perez Hilton Problem

It is no secret John McCain is a homophobe. However how stupid can you be, even when going out of your way to prove you you have right wing neo-con pew cred. When even Southern Baptists start asking, “Did he really just say that?” You start wondering just how much like David Duke John McCain really is.

This time doofus is talking about gay adoption. Whether you love or hate Perez Hilton, it is always bad for gay bashers to get noticed. Hooray for pop culture icons noticing and promoting how bad McCain will be for the country. He used McCain’s quote, “I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no, I don’t believe in gay adoption,” as his quote of the day on Sunday. At last count Hilton’s post garnered around 700 comments. Talk about effective viral marketing. Open Mouth! Insert Foot! Go WTF!

I give this one as a win for both Perez and Obama. Do you think Perez will get invited to the iInnaugurable Ball for this? Lets hope so the gossip ought to be interesting!

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