The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 11

"o)'i o); DOT! Ml ID'S Friday, Oct. 27, 1995 The Pantagraph 1 EU it A mr-v mt "Copycat," University Cifiemas rTowder," Parkway Cinemas -Three Wishes," Parkway Cinemas "Vampire in Brooklyn," Parkway Cinemas i i 1 1 4 VV -x or, now to spend 'The Cure" Exotica" Duty" The Santa Clause" "Stuart Saves His Family" Tales From the Hood" Halloween weekei Jf It II Jil TV: "ER," NBC Movie: "Get Shorty" Video rental: "Pulp Fiction" Pop single: "Fantasy," Mariah Carey 'r 1 To Die For" To Wong 12 "Strange Days" "Get Shorty" part of a costume contest to be judged by a panel of celebrity judges. Guest violinist for the event is Gabriel Pegis. (The concert will be repeated, same time, Saturday in the of I at Springfield Sangamon Auditorium.) JAYCEES HAUNTED HOUSE: The annual Bloomington-Normal Jaycees Haunted House, housed at the McLean County Fairgrounds dairy building, will be open for boos-ness from 7 to 11 p.m. today through Tuesday.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday is "Little Goblin Day," a lights-on, toned-down event suitable for children. HAUNTED VILLAGE OF DOWNS: The village of Downs goes ghostly today and Saturday with a series of grave A Haunted House will be open in where else? Haunted Park (i.e., Dooley Park) from 7 to 10 p.m. both days. Special creature-features include Tarantula Woman (flown in from Dragbona, Rumania), Dracula's yard, Tunnel of Death, Leah's Lighted Scare Dance and the Cheese Room.

One dollar gets you a trip through the house and a hayrack ride through the By DAN CRAFT Pantagraph staff Halloween: Pagan red letter day or just a creative way to bid fall adieu? Don't get us started. For the purposes of this story, we're assuming that you choose the latter option. Certainly, there are plenty of creative events being planned for the next four days, ranging from the usual run of haunted houses and costume parades to the slightly more esoteric (i.e., bob-bing-for-bones more about which shortly). Whether young or old, ghoul or boy, the options offer something for everyone. To wit: HALLOWEEN POPS: Billed as "Bloomington's largest Halloween the Illinois Symphony Orchestra's annual creepy concerto at 8 p.m.

today in ISU's Braden Auditorium presents maestro Kenneth Kiesler and the beasts in the band in costume. Concertgoers, too, are requested to attend in eerie attire as "It Runs in the Family," Barn II Dinner Theater, Goodfield Fireside Inn, Lexington -A- V2 Susan's Tea Room, Washington -kick See BEAST, next page LT Asi 11 rev Halloween debated by local churches "If I were her manager, I would have gotten her off the glamour thing a long time ago before Father Time did." U.S. Rep. Sonny Bono on former lifesinging partner Cher. fl Atlanta Chatsworth Chenoa.

Cissna Clinton Colfax Cornell Danvers Deer Delavan Downs Dwight PAMAOn APII El J--H 1 5'. Emden Eureka Farmer Flanagan Forrest FOOD SERVICE 1s p.m. 5-8 p.m. 4-6 p.m.; party follows at American Legion. 5-8 p.m.

4-7 p.m. 5-8 p.m. 5 to 8 p.m. 6-8 p.m. 4-7 p.m.

p.m. 6-8 p.m. 5-8 p.m.; party follows at American Legion. p.m. 4-7 p.m.; Lions Club party begins at 6:30 p.m.

at grade school. 5-8 p.m. 6-8 p.m.; party from 7-9 p.m. at Ellsworth Methodist Church. 5-8 p.m.

5-8 p.m. p.m. 4-8 p.m. 4-7 p.m.; Lion's Club party from 6-9 p.m. at junior high.

No designated hours 4-8 p.m. 5-8 p.m. 6-9 p.m. Monday and Halloween night p.m. 5-9 p.m.

5-9 p.m. Sunday; party at 3 p.m. at grade high school gyms with parade starting at 3:30 p.m. 5-8 p.m.; Nov. 1 is rain date.

5-7 p.m. p.m. 5-8 p.m. 6-8 p.m. 5-8 p.m.

5-9 p.m. Oct. 28 and Halloween night 5-8 p.m. p.m. p.m.

4-7 p.m. 4-8 p.m. 6-8 p.m. 4-8 p.m. 5-8 p.m.

.6:30 and 8:30 p.m.; parade at 6 p.m. at AG Grocery. 5-8 p.m. p.m. 5-8 p.m.

6-8 p.m. 5-9 p.m. No designated hours 5-8 p.m. Gibson Gridley Hartsburg Heyworth Hudson LeRoy Lexington toward Jesus with an annual Hallelujah Party at the church for those in fifth grade and younger. The event, for Eastview children and their friends, allows children to exchange candy, with each child bringing a bag to the party, and play games.

They dress in costumes. But children are told to not dress as ghosts or any other morbid character. The less holy aspects of Halloween date 2,000 years to pagans in Europe who worshipped the god Samhain. In the book "The Occult," authors Josh McDowell and Don Stewart explain the holiday as follows: Nov. 1 was the day of the dead.

The night before, people believed, the dead were able to return to their former homes. People left bribes such as food to appease the dead or else they risked revenge tricks. The authors and others sources believe this as the orgin of trick or treating that children in costume replace the dead spirits. The name of the event changed to Halloween with the introduction of Christianity. The Rev.

Ralph Wingate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Normal, advises parents against goblin costumes for this reason: He believes Satan and his minions are real and should not be trivialized. Wingate, whose church usually hosts a game night for children as an alternative, said he senses increased concern among parents over pagan implications of Halloween. It has not, however, become a major issue. Wingate and other Christian ministers do warn that the Bible forbids fortune-telling, witchcraft and other beliefs popular at this time of year. They also advise young and old to follow their convictions: If the idea of celebrating Halloween is troubling, don't celebrate it By STEVE ARNEY Pantagraph staff The Halloween event brings a wide variety of reactions from Christians from rejecting the day as pagan to requiring church attendance the day after it.

The differences in opinions center on the history of Oct. 31 celebrations as well as a person's personal convictions. Some churches have organized alternative events on Halloween. Others prohibit church activities surrounding Halloween out of respect for members who are disturbed by the more ghostly aspects of it. Other churches enjoy Halloween.

The Catholic church requires attendance at Mass on Nov. 1 as All Saints Day. Church attendance the evening before, on Hallows Eve as it was once called, fulfills the obligation. The Rev. Damian Cesanek, associate pastor for St.

Mary's Catholic Church in Bloomington, said Catholics allow children to celebrate Halloween in school as well as at home. He said the controversy surrounding the day stems from "distortions" of its intent. The tradition of dressing in costumes used to be in commemoration of saints. Still, he sees the dressing up as, for instance, a vampire, as harmless. "It's a good family time and meant to be that way," Cesanek said.

The Rev. Mark Savage, children's pastor for Eastview Christian Church, said he does not intend to lead a community protest against Halloween or to browbeat people who celebrate it. But he sees Halloween as "a holiday for evil." Savage and others at the Bloomington church have turned the focus of the day away from goblins and Better this time around Our inspiration this week was a return visit to one of the newer chain restaurants in town, the Olive Garden. While our first experience, some two years ago, wasn't very interesting, the second go 'round proved much more satisfying. While the exterior views from its dining rooms aren't too pleasing mall to the left, mall to the right the interior is very pleasant.

The dining rooms present large tables with comfortable captain's chairs on wheels, live vegetation everywhere and a helpful wait staff. The Olive Garden's menu is lengthy and interesting. It begins with appetizers, including calamari alia marinara, hot artichoke spinach dip, stuffed mushrooms, mozzarella and zucchini fritte and a sampler tray for $3.95 to $5.95. There was also an evening special appetizer, chicken chili poppers, a stuffed, deep-fried item for $4.95 that we decided to try. You also can begin with breads and pizzas (brusch-etta, alfredo and breadsticks, pizza margherita.

More GOURMET, next page Lincoln Mackinaw Mahomet McLean Minier Minonk Mount Pulaski. Normal Odell Paxton Piper City Pontiac Roanoke San Jose Sibley Stanford Streator Thawville Toluca Tremont Wapella Washington Wenona.