Let the Creep Shows Begin! - Page 2

From Terra Linda to Granada Hills—twisted Halloween hauntings rise up from the dead
By Adriene Biondo
Fridays on the Homefront
Guess who drives the Biondo family car on Halloween at Balboa Highlands, in Granada Hills? It's one of the local ghouls who haunts the Eichler neighborhood. Photo: courtesy Adriene Biondo

"There'll be a costume contest and spooky crafts for the young ones," says Gerald Turetzky, RSM Board President.

Gerald, who moved to Rancho San Miguel 24 years ago with wife Patti, says, "The trick-or-treat event has been a tradition here in the neighborhood for the last 20 years, and we look forward to another fun year."

In Southern California, 'Bal-BOO-a-Highlands' neighbors in Granada Hills are busy planning for an 'Out-of-This-World'-themed Halloween. Think UFOs, aliens, spaceships, and otherworldly things. Where last year there were vampire vibes, creepy cauldrons of treats and potions, and even a dance party, this year promises some extra-terrestrial exhilaration.

 


Fridays on the Homefront
Getting ready for the costume contest at the 2024 Halloween event at Rancho San Miguel in Walnut Creek. Photo: courtesy Darren Murata

Balboa Highlands' 'Trick-or-Treat Tour' will run 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Halloween.

Though there isn't a Halloween tradition—yet—in the Thousand Oaks Eichler neighborhood, Robyn and Joe Moshier, who moved into the tract in 2019, are 'all in' when it comes to the spook-filled holiday.

"Our Halloween tree was one silver lining that came from the pandemic and sheltering at home," explains Joe. "We wanted to keep things light and fun, so we put up our Christmas tree early and made shrinky-dink tree ornaments, and it grew from there. Oh, and we used [illustrator] Ed Emberley books we already had for design inspiration! We love him!"

 


  Fridays on the Homefront
The Moshier family's Halloween supporting cast recently took an atrium bev break in anticipation of the big day ahead. Photo: courtesy Robyn Moshier
  

Wishing their neighborhood was planning something special for Halloween, Robyn says, "We go big at our house, and some of the neighbors get into decorating, but nothing yet uniting us all."

This year, especially with Halloween falling on a Friday, Denise Albertini expects crowds to flock to her Terra Linda street.

"The best part about our neighborhood is that it's a safe place to have a community get-together to celebrate the Halloween season," Denise says.

"It's great seeing all the pumpkins and skeleton hands sticking out of the ground. One neighbor even has a wonderful dance party with a DJ and a disco ball suspended above."

"There are lots of purple and orange lights, goblins, and witches," she adds. "We all have a great time!"