Unfortunately, due to lack of sponsors, the plan for the fairground has fallen through…but, we will still be having a haunted house like we do every year. This year’s will be quite a bit bigger and in a new location…but, just as frightening as always!!

But, just because plans fell through this year, doesn’t mean that we won’t try again next year. We may even have found someone willing to invest in a permanent structure haunted house. So, wish us luck!

We would like to thank Matthew Freyer Productions for putting a commercial together for us, which we will be debuting very soon here and on all of our other sites like Hauntspace and Facebook.

I enter this contest every chance I get and have been lucky enough to pull of three wins out of four entries. Well, wish me luck on my fourth entry. The March 2010 SEI was “technology”…I know, it is a bit vague, but basically mp3 players, phones, computers..that sort of stuff.

My entry is iMummy…the techno-enhanced Mummy from another dimension. Complete with blue-tooth scare capapbilities, wireless fear transmitter and HD audio screams!!!

Another prop that he is working on is a haunted bed. No, this is not some exorcist type thing. When completed, the bed will appear as if an invisible ghost is jumping up and down on it. This will be going in the Children’s Ward area of the haunt. Should be an awesome effect when teamed with the other plans we have for the area.

Lastly…he has been putting together his MadLab.com contest entry for the month. The material that had to be used this month was a frame and the Evil Genius has come up with a great piece to create! Good luck to him as he goes for his fourth MadLab win!!!

From the people that brought us HauntSpace.com, HauntOffThePress.com, HalloweenTrade.com and HauntersNetwork.com…comes a brand new gaming site aimed at Halloween fanatics!!

UnoArcade.com is a new gaming site that is free to join, but you don’t have to sign up in order to play.  All of the games are free to enjoy for everyone! And while it has a lot of different types of games, they are constantly scouring the net to find horror and Halloween themed games to add.

I would suggest “The Pulpifier” and “Last Stand”….two of my personal favs.  So, get on over to http://www.UnoArcade.com and test your skills on all the games.

Click to Play!

Click to Play!

Click to Play!

We are proud to announce that a portion of the profits raised at this year’s haunt will be going to The Children’s Home of Tampa.

Due to their outstanding devotion to caring for neglected, abused and abandoned children, we felt that it was our duty to help them continue their efforts by donating a portion of our profits to their wonderful organization.

The Children’s Home is a child- and family-centered organization that is positioned to care for struggling families and children seeking the comfort of a loving family.

With roots that can be traced back to 1892, we have been a beacon in the community—providing a safe haven for children who have suffered abuse, neglect or abandonment.

The tradition of love sparked by our founders continues to be our driving force to protect, heal and care for Tampa Bay’s children and families.  We believe children deserve the opportunity to have a happy childhood.  We believe families deserve a chance to be successful.  These values are the essence of our mission to create a community where children and families feel loved, nurtured, and safe.

Children need love.  Families need security.  That’s why we are charged with being the source of strength and opportunity for children and families.  Through our nationally recognized residential treatment program to our Family Support and Resource Centers, we have impacted the lives of many who rely on support and care during times of uncertainty. 

Over the years, we have helped more than 6,000 children realize their dream of a family, and we have cared for more than 25,000 children in the community.

The Children’s Home is a local 501 (C)(3) not-for-profit organization serving the Central Florida region.

 To find out how you can help, visit their website at http://www.childrenshome.org/ or call them at (813) 855-4435.

*Disclaimer: The Children’s Home does not endorse violence against children/people and/or using violence against people as entertainment*

Right now, our main focus is on attracting sponsors to help us cover the cost of such a large event. That fact that this will be the only event of its type in the Tampa Bay area. The 2010 event will be a family-friendly event that will be highly affordable for everyone and will include activities for the youngest toddlers, right up to the most adrenaline-fueled fright-junky. We also plan on donating a portion of the profits to The Children’s Home of Tampa Bay, as well as collecting non-perishable food items in exchange for free game tickets.

As this is the first event that we are seeking sponsors for, we are traveling into uncharted territory for us, but have a lot to offer the prospective sponsors. Things such as internet site promotions and links to on-site  promotion opportunities…and SO much more.

We are currently working on pre-determined sponsorship levels, but if you are interested in sponsoring the 2010 event and would like to discuss it further, please emal me at jason@soulechohaunts.com and I am sure that we can work something out.

Details are still being worked out and we need to get some major sponsors to help pull this off, but we are looking forward to finally stepping into the realm of professional haunts.  This will be a major stepping stone to my dreams of owning my own pro haunt and should be a fantastic time for everyone.

We are designing the event to be a family-friendly one that an entire family can enjoy.  Attractions and activities for the little ones to enjoy and a terrifying haunted house for the adults!  Vendors will be on hand selling various items for the event as well as food and drinks.

I will also personally be donating a portion of the profits to the Children’s Home of Tampa Bay to help them with the fantastic work that they do there.

We will post some “teasers” throughout the year to give you an idea as to what is in store for you in October…so, stay tuned and check back often.

- The Evil Genius

Starting at 10am Saturday morrning, they will be auctioning off a LOT of items, ranging from autographed music instruments and ticket packs to extremely nice vacation packages.  The auction is held online, and is open to anyone. 

For those that can’t shell out a few hundren bucks for a guitar, they also have the pay-for-play portion of the weekend, where you can call in requests for ANYTHING you want to hear…and I mean ANYTHING.  Not a year goes by that I have not heard “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog…among other odd requests.  The only stipulation is that it is “radio-friendly”.  I BELIEVE it is $25 per song request.

The proceeds from this weekend go to the Children’s Home of Tampa Bay.

With roots that can be traced back to 1892, they have been a beacon in the community—providing a safe haven for children who have suffered abuse, neglect or abandonment.

http://www.childrenshome.org/subpages/About_Us.asp

It really is a GREAT organization.

Saturday, December 12, 2009  10am – 7pm
Sunday, December 13, 2009 10am-7pm

So, if you would like to help out…you can visit the station website at www.98rock.com starting Saturday.  They have a “Listen Live” feature for those of you that are out of the area and wish to help out…

The Toll-Free station phone number is: 1-800-737-0098

Thank you all ahead of time!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Christmas…just the fact that we get it shoved in our face before Halloween is even down with and then haave to endure the jolly onslaught that starts the day after Thanksgiving.  I love Christmas music as much as the next guy…but NOT every waking minute for a month!

However…I do have three small children that, even thought they like Halloween and all its sugary goodness, adore Christmas and the promise of brand new toys and gadgets wrapped up all pretty under the sparkling Christmas tree.  So, I have to do a bit more for the holiday than I would if I didn’t have kids.

So, we have been decorating Christmas trees, hanging lights all over the house and putting up some decorations around the house and yard.  Which, unfortunately, has taken time away from adding a few things to the site. Along with a few crazy things going on at work…I rarely have a chance to sit down for 5 minutes.  I finally got a few to myself and am using it to let you all know that I will add some more stuff as soon as possible.  I have a bunch more movies ready to go as well as some new tutorials and hopefully a ghost story or two.

If any of you visited out haunted house this year and snapped some pictures…we would love to see them.  You can email them to jason@soulechohaunts.com.

I am also working on the next issue of HauntOffThePress magazine.  I am shooting for a New Year’s release and already have some great articles in store for you. 

Take care, have a WONDERFUL Christmas and I will get some new stuff up here soon.

~ The Evil Genius