Seabees Get Into Halloween Spirit

NAPLES, Italy - Seabees stationed aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples built a haunted house on NSA's Support Site. Proceeds from the haunted house will go toward the 2010 Seabee Ball and various organizations in the community.

"This event alone is when we make about half of the money for our annual goal," said Utilitiesman 1st Class (SCW) Paul Kuntz, member of the build crew. "Last year we raised about $6,000. Our goal for this year is to surpass that and weather permitting I think we can do it."

Most of the details are under wraps to maintain the element of surprise, but the theme of this year is "House of Horror." Among other things the haunted house will have a haunted circus room, a butcher shop and a surprise special guest by another holiday mascot. The haunted house is complete with the Necronomicon or "book of the dead" acting as the guest book at the entrance.

"The Necronomicon will be where haunted house guests will sign in before they enter," said Utilitiesman 1st Class Clavin Rich, president of the Naples Area Seabee Association. "We used it last year and it was cool to see all the people that went in. It was more interesting to see the people that went in five or six times. This lets us know people really like it."

While the construction has been underway for the past few weeks, preparation takes place year round. Seabees collect items and order costumes throughout the year in an effort to make the haunted house the best it can be.

"I've been collecting a lot of this stuff for the passed two years," said Rich. "Anytime I see something that might work in the haunted house I get it."
Last year the haunted house had nearly 750 visitors. Rich thinks the new bus route will help promote the attraction.

"Last year we had a good turn out, but this year I expect about 1,000 people," said Rich. "In the past a lot of people didn't know where we were, but now the school buses go by before and after school. Hopefully this will mean more people at the haunted house this weekend."

The haunted house requests a donation-based entrance fee.