City hunting for haunted houses

Gretchen Hoffman

As nerve-jangling jack o’ lanterns and gruesome graveyards begin

to pop up across Glendale, the city of Glendale is looking for the

scariest, spookiest showings of Halloween spirit out there.

The city’s Neighborhood Services Department and the Committee for

a Clean & Beautiful Glendale are looking for the creepiest and most

creative haunted houses and businesses.

The nomination deadline is Friday.

“It’s more of a recognition program than a contest,” said Juan

Gonzalez, a public education coordinator for the department. “We want

to recognize the people who make their neighborhoods more special at

Halloween.”

“You’ve got some people who go out of their way,” he said. “It can

be as simple as carving some elaborate pumpkins. There are also

people who have full graveyards on their lawns, with hearses.”

Halloween brings out the creativity in many residents and business

owners, Gonzalez said.

“A lot of people love it,” he said. “We encourage them to just

have fun with it.”

Nominations -- including address, cross street and owners’ name,

if known -- can be made to Eric Alonso at 548-2125 or via e-mail at

ealonso@ci.glendale.ca.us.

Neighborhood Services TV crews will visit the nominated businesses

and homes during the evening between Monday and Oct. 23. Some of the

top homes and businesses will be featured on Charter Communications

Channel 6 for one week beginning Oct. 28.