HELP A SAN PEDRO 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL BATTLE LEUKEMIA; ATTEND A BLOOD/BONE MARROW DRIVE AND FUNDRAISING BARBECUE THIS SATURDAY; READ ANOTHER SAN PEDRO CHILD’S HALLOWEEN TALE AND MAKE SURE YOU READ THE EARLIER POST ON TIPS FROM A LOCAL CHRIOPRACTOR TO AVOID DIABETES IN YOUR CHILD

BLOOD/BONE MARROW DRIVE FOR 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL & BARBECUE

A 9-year-old student, Devin Taylor Hamilton, who goes to Crestwood Elementary School, needs your help to survive leukemia. To do so, consider attending an American Red Cross blood/bone marrow drive and a family-style barbecue this Saturday.

The $10-per-plate barbecue, which includes a free jumper for children, will help with the family’s mounting medical expenses.

Devin, a lifetime resident of San Pedro, was diagnosed with leukemia in August and doctors believe she has the chance to survive with more treatments. Donations will also be accepted.

The American Red Cross will handle the blood and bone marrow drive while the family’s relatives and friends will hold the barbecue at the same location .The drive will be held at Top Value Market, at the corner of 1^st and Bandini streets, from 9 to 3 p.m.

CHECK OUT THIS FUN MONSTER TALE

THE SEVEN MONSTERS OF HALLOWEEN

By Casey Mezin, 13, written at the Corner Store fall of 2009

The seven witches were the seven monsters of Halloween.

They were known as Raven, Worm, Moldy, Cackle, Prickly, Crept and Misty.

There were seven kids who were going trick-or-treating one Halloween night. As they roamed from house to house asking for treats, they heard a cackling sound. Then they spotted a misty fog floating toward them. Beneath their feet, prickly worms sprouted up from the sewer. Their candy began to mold.

Scared now, they crept quietly to the next person’s house, which had a sign that said: “Raven.” Something flew by on a broomstick with a horrible laugh.

Suddenly, coming out of nowhere was a person with purple eyes, muscular arms and a hairy body. Another figure started to move in black armor with a deadly sword, mace, axe and a protective shield. And then two more creatures appeared; one looked like it was made from tar and mud and the other was formed from mist that turned into a strange cloud of dust. A walking crocodile and a giant worm popped out of the sewer drain and slid toward the kids.

Meanwhile, hours later, the parents waited and worried, because the kids didn’t come home. They didn’t know the seven witches had abducted the trick-or-treaters! Just as the parents prepared for a search, the kids came home. But they were different.

They came home with bright green eyes and they had a strange way of walking. The children didn’t tell their parents where they were and wouldn’t answer their questions. The parents were becoming more suspicious that something bad had happened, but could get no answers.

Finally, the kids decided to go out one night and the parents followed. Then the seven witches appeared and leaped on the parents, trying to give them green eyes and a funny walk. This is how they controlled people so they could eventually eat them!

The parents, however, fought back, breaking the magic spell – and all the children melted back to their normal selves. They saw the witches trying to tie up their parents with chains, so the children battled too.

Together, they won and shouted: “VICTORY!” They later threw a party for their victory with pizza, hot dogs, sodas, chips, cookie, cakes, puddings, cupcakes topped off with delicious tasting witch meat pie.

On Halloween, children can now trick-or-treat in safety – since the seven kids got rid of the seven witches for everyone.