GIGA GRANADA HILLS

via Dangerous Minds

Mike Spasoff is a tireless servant to this community -- at least for a few months out of the year -- and that's good enough for me. It's also more than good enough for the 600 trick-or-treaters he delights and terrifies with the elaborate, Disney-rivaling, pirate-themed yard display at his house on San Fernando Mission Boulevard (near Shoshone). When I was a kid, I used to always wish someone in the neighborhood would do something beyond carving a pumpkin. Fortunately, kids in Mike's neighborhood will never have to cope with that same unfulfilled sense of longing that I always had. Read more about Mike Spasoff, Master of Pirates

I've put together a Granada Hills YouTube Channel , where you can see video of Granada Hills' most committed Halloween decorator, Will Raxon. Click on the picture at left, and enjoy! Related Posts: Mike Spasoff, Master of Pirates

Spooky Story Time Saturday, October 30, 4pm Granada Hills Branch Library Pre-schoolers and their parents, come in your Hallowe'en costume, make crafts, and hear spooky stories by Children's Librarian Heather. Granada Hills Recrecation Center Hallowe'en Carnival Sunday, October 31, 2010, 1pm-5pm Granada Hills Recreation Center Hallowe'en Carnival . Lots of fun for the whole family including costume contests, prizes, entertainment and candy for the kids. For more info call 818-363-3556. Hallowe'en Festival And Costume Contest Saturday, October 30th 2010, 12pm-3pm North Hills Shopping Center , SE Corner Devonshire and Balboa All stores will be giving out FREE samples, Coupons, Candy, and more. The event features face Painting, a costume contest, music, games, and a picture booth. The Odyssey's Haunted Hill Hallowe'en Saturday October 30th, 7pm- Midnight The Odyssey Restaurant Ticket are $35.95 per person. There will be a Hallowe'en costume contest, l...

As much as the idea of children stopping to check their smartphones during their Trick-or-Treat rounds gives me pause, I'm generally in favor of anything that increases kids' opportunities for (controlled doses of) freedom and independence, especially in a low-crime neighborhood like Granada Hills. Parents who are ready to give their kids this sort of experience, in a tethered, 2010 sort of way might want to check out the app "TrickorTracker," which is free of charge for Halloween (and can be purchased for $9.99 afterwards). The app installs on both the parent’s phone and the child’s own phone, but if your kid is too young to use a Smartphone, maybe they're not ready to trick-or-treat without an adult escort. The child’s phone has a special “Where Am I?” and “Where’s My Parent?” button, and the parent’s phone has a corresponding “Where’s My Child?” button. Messages can be sent to the child’s phone using a special code that is picked up and responded to via pre...