Halloween is just a day away and a number of Tri-City residents have erected spooky displays for the occasion, including:
SANDYLAND
• 2980 Cape Crt., Coquitlam: Sandy Olynyk has bought another $1,000 worth of special effects for his spooky production at his home near Ranch Park elementary school. Olynyk, who is raising money for the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation campaign for a new breast cancer treatment machine, started building his Halloween collection about 20 years ago. Now, 30 people help him to put on the show.
ANMORE MANOR
• 1151 Robin Way, Anmore: Ken Honigman and his partner Lilija Lavoie have converted 80% of his Anmore home into a haunted house for Halloween. Anmore Manor is open tonight (Friday) from 7 to 10 p.m. and on Halloween from 6 to 10 p.m. Because of its scary content, Anmore Manor isn’t recommended for kids under 10 unless they’re accompanied by an adult.
BURKE CEMETERY
• 3412 Don Moore Dr., Coquitlam (Burke Mountain): Chris and Patricia Baker have created a detailed Burke Mountain Cemetery at their home featuring ghosts and goblins.
COUNT’S CASTLE
• 3108 Starlight Way, Coquitlam: “The Count’s Castle” is open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Halloween only; it’s a haunted house, along the lines of the PNE Fright Nights. Entrance by donation and all money raised goes to the Pacific Autism Family Centre. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/TheCountsCastle.
VICKIE’S PLACE
• 443 Draycott St., Coquitlam: Vickie Ayers’ 17th annual haunted house for Variety — the Children’s Charity, open daily through Halloween from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; this is a family-friendly event and wheelchair accessible. Ayers’ goal this year is to raise $10,000 for Variety (she also does fundraising activities all year and in February presented a cheque for $28,000 at the annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon).
THE BILESKIS
• 2988 Forestridge Pl., Coquitlam: lights are on nightly from 6:30 to 10 p.m. until Nov. 1 at longtime Variety supporter Marlene Bileski’s home, where donations are being collected for Variety — the Children’s Charity. On Oct. 31, live “monsters” will be on site.
HAUNTED YARD
• 486 McGill Dr., Port Moody: Haunted backyard in support of Coquitlam Animal Shelter, 6 to 8 p.m. nightly until Halloween. You are invited to visit the graveyard, witch’s circle, monster alley, spider forest, pumpkin patch and haunted house. Enjoy some free hot chocolate.
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Post-Halloween pumpkins belong in green bins
This Halloween, you should know Jack.
After more than a year with the city green bins in Coquitlam and longer in Port Moody and Port Coquitlam, Tri-City residents are expected to know their jack-o-lanterns don’t get thrown in the trash. Rather, once you’re done with them, pumpkins are to be placed in the organics cart.
For more creative ways of disposing of the orange gourd, Metro Vancouver has these tips to stop the landfills from filling up after Halloween:
• carve it up for dinner (puree or freeze for baking or cooking, and roast the seeds);
• compost it in your backyard or a home compost bin;
• or bury it in the vegetable (or flower) garden to provide more nutrients to the soil.
Meanwhile, the city of Coquitlam is offering free extra yard trimmings pickup next month for residents with municipal curbside collection.
From Nov. 2 to 27, Coquitlam residents can put out their surplus trimmings — in separate kraft bags, old garbage cans (with a green sticker) or in tied bundles — on their green cart collection day. The extra cans and bundles can’t weigh more than 44 lb. each. Food scraps should be contained to the green bin only. Call 604-927-3500 or visit coquitlam.ca/curbsidecollection for more information.
