The seventh annual YAN Halloween Event is going on the road this year. Literally!

The annual event is being adapted this year due to COVID-19 protocols. Instead of the usual indoor activities inside the high school, YAN will host a “Halloween Highway” on Tuesday, October 27th from 5 pm to 6 pm in the TAHS parking lot.

The event is free for any local PreK through fourth-grade children and their families. It will include several Halloween themed stops along a route around the middle and high school building with candy and a Halloween car decorating contest along the way.

“In these uncertain times, it is important to be able to hold onto some sense of normalcy yet be as safe and possible. We have been doing this event for many years. It has become one that the community really looks forward to, and we didn’t want to give it up this year,” YAN advisor and coordinator of the event, Cummins McNitt said.

The outdoor drive-through event will allow families to continue the tradition of spending Halloween time at the high school in a safe and healthy way without leaving their cars.

“When we presented our student YAN members with what they would like to do this year we suggested they could take a different approach. They all agreed they wanted to find a way to pull off the Halloween event again, albeit, things would have to look different,” said McNitt.

Guests will enter the TASD campus at the Hospital Road/Clay Avenue entrance, travel through the middle school parking area, around the middle and high school and exit back on to Clay Avenue between the high school and elementary school.

There will be three stops on the route with YAN and Golden Revolution being at the middle school main entrance, Eagle Eye, National Honor Society, and POPS being at the swimming pool area, and HOSA and Health Science being at the Votech area by Mr. Vancas’s room.

“We typically have about 125 students and 20 staff help out. This year we expect the numbers to be a little lower, but not by much,” McNitt said.

TAHS students and staff will be in costume and handing out candy at the three stops. Families are encouraged to wear their costumes while remaining in their vehicles.

The Eagle Eye will also hold a Car Costume Contest at the event.

Eagle Eye staffers will take pictures of every car that is decorated for Halloween and post them on the Eagle Eye for the community to pick their favorite.

Winners of the community vote will receive a prize courtesy of the Eagle Eye and a local business.

There is no entrance fee to the event and everyone is invited to join in the fun and collect some candy.

McNitt, the advisor for YAN and the coordinator of the event, will be at the entrance to answer any questions and deal with traffic control.

“This event serves as a great bridge between the elementary and high school, as well as between the district and our community. Our older students love working with elementary-age children and their families. This is a highlight of the year for our student body, and quite honestly, for many of our staff as well,” McNitt said.

Participating Student Groups:

Youth Action Network (Advisors: Tracy Redinger & Cummins McNitt) Halloween Fruit Rollups, Halloween Tattoos & Assorted Candy

Golden Revolution (Advisor Mike Funicelli) Bag of Candy

POPS (Advisor Laura Harris) Variety of Treats

HOSA (Advisor Christie Taylor) Pretzels, Vampire Teeth, and Coloring Sheets

TAHS Science Department (Advisors: Beth Cannistraci & Danielle Shick) Directions for Home Experiments & Candy

Student Council (Advisors: Tiffany Smith & Michele Marasco) Pre-cut Crafts in a Bag w/ Directions & Tiny Pumpkins

National Honor Society (Advisor Amanda Burega) Small Candy Treat Bags

Eagle Eye (Advisors: Todd Cammarata & Eric Feather) Photos of Cars/Participants

FFA (Advisor Tiffany Hoy) Scarecrows & Pencils

Donors and additional support:

Karissa Budny, English Teacher

Carol Blaska, Secretary

Rachel Litzinger, Business Teacher

John Clark, Business Manager

Tracy & Fred Miller, School Nurse & District Justice

Jim Coleman, Head Custodian & Grounds

Teresa Myers, Health Teacher

Jeff Crofcheck, Grounds

Karen Raling, Guidance

Leslie Estep, Superintendent

Molly Rivera, Guidance/Social Worker

Mark Estright, Grounds

Shoe Fly (Candy/treat bags)

Jordan Good, Physical Plant Supervisor

Tom Yoder, Principal

Randy Gorecki, Maintenance

TASD School Board