Hundreds and hundreds of you voted and the results are in! On Sunday, Nov. 2 the “prize patrol” – consisting of Gibson International’s founder Scott Gibson and executive vice president and sales manager Pat Heller as well as Palisadian-Post editor-in-chief Frances Sharpe – visited the three homes that earned the most votes in the Post’s Creep Your Crypt Contest sponsored by Gibson International with special thanks to U.S. Bank.
Gibson said his real estate firm wanted to be part of the contest because “Halloween is a great community event that brings everyone together.”
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Heller added, “This holiday is really important in this community.”
The trio delivered “pumpkin towers” of gift certificates from local businesses to the winners in three categories: Creepiest Crypt, Best Theme and DIY-Originality.
Karyn Newbill-Helmig and Shawn Helmig at 1105 Monument in the Alphabet Streets took the top prize in the Creepiest Crypt category thanks to a yard full of tombstones, zombies and witches.
“Last year we had a professional do the Halloween decorations, and this year we used some of the stuff from last year and embellished with some new things,” said Karyn, who is a marine biology teacher at Palisades Charter High School.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Sierra LeBaron and Andrew Mellinger at 907 Iliff won the DIY-Originality prize. LeBaron, a professional lighting designer, and Mellinger used an array of lasers and other lights to transform their home into a creepy witches lair.
Photo courtesy of Sierra LeBaron
“Halloween is my favorite holiday,” LeBaron said. “When we get all the lights on, it creates a magical environment that brings the whole neighborhood together.”
The couple’s home is so popular on Halloween that several neighbors may be joining them next year in creating a spooktacularly creepy light show.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
The Hopper Family – mom Melissa, dad Justin and kids Jack and Lilia – at 877 Kagawa won the Best Theme prize for their ghoulish graveyard, featuring 50 tombstones and creepy specters.
“Our neighbors really love all the decorations,” said Justin. “There’s constantly someone driving by who stops to take a picture of the house.”
Justin said son Jack was so excited about being in the contest, he would yell to passing cars, “Vote for #26!”
Prizes included gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses, including Casa Nostra, Taste, Bellagio Nails, Chez Mimi, Moku Sushi, Flash Gallery Jewelry, Palisades Music Studio, Alicia Place Childcare, Il Piccolo Ritrovo, Palisades Garden Café, Patrick’s Roadhouse, Gelson’s, Claudia Ross Massage, PPWC Home Tour 2014 Tickets, Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center, The L.A. Organizer, Studio K and lots of Post SWAG.
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