Halloween

If I could write a scary story as perfect as Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," I could die happy.

Poe is at his most brilliant: Niter drips. Damp oozes. Dark seeps. Webs gleam amid flickering flambeaux.

And murder lurks. That final dank hole in which Fortunato's bells jingle their last? Perfection!

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Last Halloween, Ryan Murphy, the TV producer who helped bring "Glee" into the world, enjoyed what he calls "the greatest viewing experience" of his life. And it had nothing to do with bubbly song-and-dance numbers.

A passionate scary movie junkie, he cleared his schedule and rushed home to catch the premiere of "The Walking Dead," AMC's ghastly drama about a plague of flesh-eating zombies.

Halloween is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians, say AAA officials.

OGDEN -- Home improvement is the theme for the 2011 Fall Home Show & Spa Expo sponsored by the Standard-Examiner.

"A lot of people are rethinking their homes instead of buying a brand-new home," said event coordinator Jennifer Thorpe.

The city’s recreation department will host a series of Halloween events,.

A free pumpkin walk will be held Oct. 27-29 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Centennial Park at 1787 South and 2000 West.

On Saturday at Centennial Park, there will a number of festivities including a pumpkin baking contest at 1 p.m., a pumpkin throw contest at 2 p.m., pumpkin bowling at 3 p.m., a pie eating contest at 4 p.m., a children’s costume parade at 4:30 p.m. and trunk or treat at 5 p.m.

There will also be crafts and vendor booths and bounce houses and slides, as part of the event.

For more information and to register for activities visit www.syracuserecreation.com.

Riverdale City is hosting a trunk or treat and pumpkin carving contest today.

The event sponsored by Business of Riverdale, will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Home Depot, 999 Riverdale Road.

Admission is a non-perishable food item that will be donated to the Ogden Rescue Mission.

KAYSVILLE — Families looking for Halloween fun without too much fright can enjoy the family-friendly Scary Hill, located at Cherry Hill at 1325 South on Main Street.