Back of the Class

Want to get into the Halloween spirit?

Here are a few places you can go……….

Vanier Court Haunted House: The front stairs and lobby will be transformed into a scary maze featuring monsters in a “living” room full of “undead” brain-hungry zombies. Open 5 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. 1355 Harwood Street, between Jervis St. and Broughton St..

6478 Dunbar: The display is worth seeing in the daytime in addition to the evening. Described as unbelievable, and mind blowing. The yard is filled with zombies, ghouls and creatures of the night.

Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tours: Tour the city’s spookiest haunts and listen to stories of betrayal, revenge and the “undead.” Enjoy a 25-minute walking tour, and three flights of stairs at the old morgue. Presented by The Vancouver Museum and the Vancouver Trolley Company. Tickets $25. For more information call 604-861-6508.

West Vancouver 1488 Palmerston - See 500 carved pumpkins and other goodies on display. Donations for Canuck Place & Easter Seal House. Viewing after dark on Tuesday.

The Haunted House: Photos, artifacts, and stories about local customs, pop culture ghouls and legends noon - 6 p.m. (Closed Sunday). Through Tuesday, Oct. 31. West Vancouver Museum & Archives, 680 17th St.

North Vancouver: 1808 St. Andrews Ave. (two blocks east of Lonsdale Ave.) The Witches of Eastwick and the Warlock; 34 carved pumpkins; a new and improved graveyard and skeletons; ghosts, goblins, bats, a Grim Reaper; and Halloween music. Through Tuesday, Oct. 31. The fireworks display will start at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

920 Casano Dr. — Hollow Grave 2006: Biggest free display on the North Shore. You are at the right address when you spot the hang-gliding skeleton above a three-storey functioning windmill. The garage has been transformed into a mausoleum. Actors appear during the walk-through Haunted House, which has additional displays this year. Admission is by donation of non-perishable food for North Shore Harvest. Open: 7 — 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Oct. 27 & 28; 7 — 10p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 ; and Tuesday, Oct. 31, 7 -11 p.m.

588 Lowry Lane: This yard is full of surprises. You will see a 10.5-metre high monster, a 5.5-metre spider, a crashed car and ghouls everywhere.

3877 Brockton Cres: If you are searching for the Great Pumpkin, visit this address. A 272-kilogram carved pumpkin called “Seymour” on display on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Sometimes I really wonder why bad things happen to good people. Take Ed Schellenberg for example.
From all reports, this 55 year old fireplace repairman, was an incredible family guy and church-going person. Always doing good for others.

His family’s life was forever changed on Friday, when he was innocently killed while attending a work call at a Surrey apartment, in an apparent drug related shooting. Another innocent bystander, was Chris Mahon who lived in the building where Schellenberg, Mahon and four others were killed on Friday.
The other four were all known to police, two of them were brothers. Friends remember Chris Mahon warmly, who only one month ago moved to the apartment next door to the crime scene.

Apparently the apartment was used for some form of drug activity, and the renter who is not one of the deceased has not been cooperative with police investigators.

What a senseless loss of lives.

After almost three months of garbage piling up, no libraries, community centres, parks and swimming pools, the Vancouver strike is finally over. Well, just about. Around 800 library workers remain off the job, holding out for more pay. Besides those works, its all services back to normal, with garbage pickup starting Monday morning.

The deal includes a 17.5-per-cent pay hike over five years, a $1,000 signing bonus, improved benefits and the establishment of a joint committee to address the assignment of overtime for the approximate 2,000 workers.

As an average Joe, I am as relieved as the next guy that services will be up and running again. Its been a long 88 days!

Did you know that some of your favourite celebrities may also blog? Some like Donald Trump write about how hard they work and how great they are, and some like Rosie O’Donnell add video, often made by her, and Canadian born actress Elisha Cuthbert blogs about hockey!

Here are some celebrities who might give you some entertaining reading.

Alec Baldwin
David Beckham

Barbra Streisand
Rosie O’Donnell
William Shatner
Donald Trump

Elisha Cuthbert
Meredith Viera
Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen

Michael Moore
Tori Spelling

Feel like your brain is too fuzzy and need to sharpen it somewhat? Here are some tips to get your brain mentally fit:

1. Read a book
2. Play games
3. Use your opposite hand
4. Learn phone numbers
5. Eat for your brain
6. Break the routine
7. Go a different way
8. Learn a new skill
9. Make lists
10. Choose a new skill