My friend Ron Hawn from the American Legion stopped by the office the other day to talk about the planned Halloween display to be put in at the Veterans Hall at 1300 Forrest St. in Folsom.

Since the Haunted House on Sutter Street isn’t happening as planned for the week, to coincide with Sutter Fall Fest, this will be a great alternative.

While not a Haunted House, the hall will feature some top-notch displays inside and outside the building from 5 to 10 p.m. beginning Monday, Oct. 26, and running through Oct. 31.

To get inside and see a beached pirate ship themed after Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean,” bring a can of food to be donated to the American Legion’s food program called “Supporting Families of Folsom.”

“During the holidays, we provide food baskets for needy families,” Hawn said. “This food will go toward that program. We’re looking for canned or other non-perishable food.”

This is the 21st official year for the roving Halloween decorations. The man behind them is 6-foot 4-inch tall Russell “Briz” Brizendine, a Folsom Prison guard with 20 years under this belt.

He said he does the displays because he loves it.

“I’ve been doing this display for more like 30 years,” Briz said. “Last year I did them in El Dorado Hills and two years ago I did Cameron Park.”

He said one year he did a wrecked pirate ship resting on the seabed.

“I wanted it to look like it was under water so I set up this ocean floor and the ship and then I built a (clear plastic) wall and filled it with water, so it looked like this garage was flooded,” Briz said.

He said he usually spends a month setting up his elaborate displays but because of the use restrictions at the hall (with other events and meetings happening in the shared facility), he’s doing it in a week.

He expects 1,000 people to come through the hall to view the decorations. That would make many kids happy and help put food on the tables of those in need.

Spooky seniors

For Folsom Convalescent Hospital at 510 Mill Street in Folsom, Halloween is a special day. That’s when staff members of the hospital go all out, creating a haunted graveyard out front and a haunted house in back.

The senior citizens at the hospital also get into the spirit of the event and pass out candy to the costumed kids as they pass through the facility.

The event is co-sponsored by the Folsom Rotary Club and runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.

“They’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” said club member Richard Cantor. “It’s a good interaction for the old timers (with the kids).”

Admission is free to all kids under 14. The family friendly bash features trick or treating, popcorn, prizes and homemade root beer.

Show your colors

Marliss Uhrich, owner of Fusion Salon and Spa at 2791 E. Bidwell Street in Folsom, is excited to be offering pink hair extensions again this year to help raise awareness of breast cancer.

“We raised almost $4,000 the last time we did this,” she said. “People can come in and for a $10 donation, we will put in a pink hair extension they can wear.”

The “Pink Hair for Hope” campaign is running through the end of October.

“All of the proceeds go to breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen foundation,” Uhrich said.

For more information, call the salon at (916) 988-8585.

Don Chaddock is the managing editor of the Telegraph. He can be reached at donc@goldcountrymedia.com or by calling (916) 351-3753.