Scaring up costumes for the holiday

Houlton Pioneer Times  Photo/Joseph Cyr
COSTUME QUEEN — Teri Sgiers of  Houlton shows off some of the costumes she has collected, which she plans to donate to children who cannot afford them. Sgiers said she came up with the idea to help families meet the challenges of today’s economy.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — One Houlton homeowner who’s almost legendary for Halloween sights and frights is reaching out to the community in a whole new way. Teri Sgiers says she wants to make Halloween even more fun for children by working out a free costume exchange in cooperation with the Houlton Rec Center. She calls it the “Halloween Movement.”
    Sgiers arranged with Marie Carmichael, program coordinator at the rec center, to make the center a drop-off site for outgrown and new Halloween costumes, props and accessories. It will also be a pick-up location for free costumes. Sgiers says she came up with the idea recently because of “the economic times being what they are, and with money being hard to come by. It’s the one time of the year, that children can be whoever they want to be.” Carmichael said she is looking forward to it and “it will be fun.”
    Sgiers and her husband, Andre, have been busy planning even more additions to their displays. She says her husband is looking for the perfect mask for this year to dress up and scare children and their parents. According to Sgiers, the reputation for displays outside her home has spread far beyond Houlton. She met visitors, she says, from South Portland, Japan and England who wanted to see the displays that have thrilled residents here for years.
    Sgiers added that the costumes will be washed and, if necessary, repaired since she and her daughter will inspect every garment. Costumes can be donated or dropped off at the rec center, 128 Main St., Oct. 13-23, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Sat. and Sun.
    Alternatively, costumes and accessories can be dropped off to Sgiers at 37 Franklin Ave. during those same times.
    Starting Oct. 23 costumes can be picked up at both locations from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Contact the rec center for more information at 532-1310.