Scout's Eagle project is a treat for park district's Halloween party

It's like a fairy tale come true for the Rolling Meadows Park District.

When 16-year-old Chris Carter, a Scout working toward Eagle status, offered to redo the background scenes for the children's Halloween party, officials were ecstatic.

"The old scenes were made out of refrigerator boxes," said Dawn Puetz, special events coordinator. "Every year we'd have to repaint them and tape them up. That got pretty old."

The 5-foot-tall scenes help create a trick-or-treat path for children to follow during the annual event. Chris constructed 16 mini-houses and backdrops out of wood, then painted various images on them, mostly scenes from Disney movies, cartoons, Dr. Seuss books and fairy tales.

For Chris, who also works part-time for the park district, the project was a natural fit. "I volunteered at the trick-or-treat path since I was 8 years old. When I asked the supervisor what needed to be done, this was one idea they suggested," he said.

As part of the requirements for Eagle Scout, Chris had to involve members of his troop and use leadership skills.

The troop worked for three full Saturdays, said Pat DePhilippo, assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 168. "He designed the whole thing."

Chris, a junior at Rolling Meadows High School, also serves as the troop's senior patrol leader.

"Chris is an amazing individual in general," Puetz said. "As soon as I mentioned the idea, he took the initiative and went with it. The only thing I did was say, 'Uh-huh.' "

You can see Chris' work at the party, set for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Community Center, 3705 Pheasant Drive. Cost is $8 per child; parents get in free.

"The finished products are 1,000 times better than I thought they could ever turn out," Puetz said.

This is one project that will live happily ever after.

Hallowed happenings: One week from today, kids of all ages engage in their annual pursuit of candy. Use extra caution if you're out driving -- young goblins with sweets on their minds don't always think about safety first. Trick-or-treat hours are 3 to 8 p.m.

If you're in the area of Bluebird Lane and Fulle Street on Halloween, the "book lady" invites you to stop by her house for a different kind of handout. Virginia Genschoreck, a 48-year-resident and retired teacher, has been handing out books for 16 years.

"There are so many kids who don't read, who don't know the fairy tales," she said. "I want to give them a chance to read those."

She collects gently used books all year long, scoping out library book sales and rummage sales. "They have to be perfect, no names in them, no ripped pages," Genschoreck said.

Gourd golly: There's still time to buy a pumpkin at Boy Scout Troop 168's fundraiser. Look for the tent outside Community Church on Kirchoff Road and Meadow Drive. The sale runs through Oct. 30.