European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 31, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday october 31, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 9kids carving out a scary Tricky evening by Jimi Jones education writer Wor Felden Germany a to Ward off the ghosts goblins gremlins and other dreary ghouls that will Lurk around Corners tonight about 15 classes from Halvorsen elementary school at Rhein main a Germany carved faces onto pumpkins before the anticipated hour when things go bump in the night. Its halloween the night when kids a and spirits a Are permitted to roam the streets. Eight year old Matthew Boardman selected a slim Tail pumpkin rather than the traditional fat round one. He said its a better shape for the task. A a it a longer and its easier to carve a he said. A you can make funny faces and carve Little squares and stuff and there Are More seeds inside and you can Cook them and eat them. They re Good especially with seasoning  Matthew was one of 24 pupils from Lisa Tafoyan a third Grade class who visited German citizen Dieter Schulz a farm in Wor Felden on tuesday in search of the perfect pumpkin. Linus who is searching for the great pumpkin in the peanuts comic strip would have been jealous. Tafoya said the children would get a lesson on pumpkins and other traditions connected to halloween which Means a fall saints  a a we la incorporate things like the health aspect. Why pumpkins and Squash Are healthy for us to eat a she said. A and in a going to talk a Little about How the Jack of lantern came about to Ward off evil  the children were More concerned with making Jack of lanterns from the Large round Gourd with the thick yellow Orange skin and multitude of seeds. This was Schulz a first attempt at growing the american Breed of pumpkin but not the first time Young americans have picked pumpkins from a germans Patch. Peter Kreutzer a bus Driver who has driven children to pumpkin patches for a number of years said a germans normally do not grow pumpkins. He Schulz grows them for the  he said the students used to go to a Patch in mor Felden but that Farmer stopped growing them so Schulz was asked to fill the pumpkin void. Schulz said his crop this year yielded some 5,000 pumpkins but Many were lost to Veather. Children normally pick the pumpkins directly from the Vine but because of the first few Winter frosts earlier this week Schulz had gathered the pumpkins and piled them in his barn. The children from Tafoyan a class took their pick. On wednesday morning Tafoyan a third graders were gutting the pumpkins before carving. Little Stephanie Cruz was a bit hesitant about sticking her hand into the pumpkin and pulling out the a a Yucky stuff but Matthew dug right in. A i like to do it a he said. A a it a  Matthew said he will emerge tonight As  also expected to haunt Gateway gardens housing areas at the base Are 8-year-Olds Aaron Walp As an american ninja Nicole Cox As a Panda Bear and Sonrier Gerbacio As a member of the Broomstick brigade. Flying among those will be a Devil a fairy a Princess a Clown and a gymnast. Matthew said his Only problem with halloween overseas is the Lack of neighbourhood doorbells to ring. A a it a very fun but i like it better in the states because you can go to almost every House because they All speak English a he said. No matter he added because tonight he will get the one american in his neighbourhood then head to the base with his Mother. A my mom likes it too a he explained. A she dresses up and that a very  8&s Jim dwt Eim Sharon Tapia 8, and teacher Lisa Tafoya pick out pumpkins in Wor Felden Germany happening puts new face on Pagan Holiday by Amy Geiszler Jones . Bureau Raf Ben Waters England Kevin Richardson ii 10, faced that familiar halloween dilemma of deciding what his costume should be. Costumes depicting bad Guy Saddam Hussein or desert storm hero a a storming a Norman Schwarzkopf May be a a in this year. But Kevin a fifth Grade student at Woodbridge elementary school wont be decked out in a faddish costume for the party he plans to attend tonight. Hell dress up As a character or Symbol of the Bible. Kevin like several other youngsters at Raf Benwa ters is planning to attend the base chapels third annual a hallelujah happening party billed As a halloween alternative by its Christian organizers. Similar parties Are also being sponsored by other military chapels in England including those at Raf Mildenhall Raf Lakenheath and Raf Chicksands. Rather than launching on a religious crusade against halloween a Holiday with Pagan beginnings Many Church communities Are offering a halloween alternative parties organizers of the Ben Waters party said. Youngsters still get to deck out in costumes and they still return Home with a stash of Candy and other treats but the focus of the party is on the Bible rather than goblins ghouls witches and Jack of lanterns. A was christians we were looking at some Way we could emphasize the spiritual Side of things like Christian characters instead of dressing up As skeletons a said 10-year-old Kevin a father sgt. Kevin Richardson. Richardson an ordained minister Heads up the Bent Waters gospel service. A we Arentt emphasizing that the rest of the base is wrong in celebrating halloween in the More traditional vein chaplain it. Col Rick hum said. He believes the question of safety in traditional halloween practices has also influenced the decision of churches to offer alternative parties. A you done to have to worry about praying the Candy a hum said. A a it a also just Good positive family fun a said staff sgt. Clifford Winston one of the organizers. Adults along with the children get caught up in the party atmosphere where games like pm the wings on the Angel or Noah Sark race will be played. Organizers expect about 150 people at this years party at Ben Waters. Last years party at Chicksands attracted 80 people. Past partners praised the biblical concept and said they done to think they re missing out by forgoing traditional trick or treating. A when you trick or treat All you do is go to a door and get Candy. This is More fun a said 10-Ycar-old a Gina Offord from Ben Waters who a leaning toward dressing up this year As an Angel a popular costume for girls at these parties. And Bible based costumes can be just As creative As any other halloween costume. Sgt. Richardson plans to make an appearance As a grape symbolizing the fruit of the Vine. Another child according to Ben Waters organizer Sheila Williams is planning to attend As Salty a Christian character designed by a commercial company that teaches children songs of Praise. Salty symbolizing the bibles Book of psalms looks like a Book. Raginal a 12-Ycar-old brother Brian and another Friend dressed up As Lions last year while another Friend was costumed As Daniel bringing to life the biblical characters trials in the Lions Den. This year Brian intends to be one of the three Kings who visited the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Kevin however thinks hell have to Settle on the same shepherds costume he wore last year. A i wanted to go As Jonah but then my mom and dad said i  do that because 1 would need a whale a he said. A then i was thinking abut Moses but i done to think i want to do that. Then my mom said a Why done to you be John the Baptist a but then she told me what he  the idea of donning a thigh length tunic turned him off