SILVER LAKE, Ohio — A single-night Halloween haunt known as Haunt on Hastings plans to scare up donations for a local charity.
On Hastings Road is a family that loves Halloween.
“I’ve always loved Halloween,” Austin Juersivich said. “My parents got married on Halloween in 2015.”
Juersvich, his mom and stepfather are hard at work putting together their annual backyard Haunt on Hastings.
“Everyone’s working,” he said. “My mom, she’s over there painting our sign. My stepdad, he’s over there building everything in the back.”
For three years, this family has put together a ghostly haunt in their backyard. It’s free to get in, but donations are highly encouraged. Each year, the family chooses a charity or child to sponsor.
“For the first year in 2019, we raised money for ASPIES, which is the Akron area for kids with Asperger’s,” Juersivich said.
This year the family chose an organization that really hits close to home.
“This year is Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep… these are all hit very personal for us,” Juersivich said. “She had a stillborn child and they’ll come in volunteer basis and take photos after your child has unfortunately passed. They came in, took some beautiful photos of my mom and my sister at the time, my stepdad, me and everybody got to hold my sister Palmer.”
The family said this year’s haunt on Hastings will also be in memory of Palmer.
“I can say for myself, it is the opportunity to spend time with the family, with the kids,” said Lonnie Teitel, Juersivich’s stepfather. “There’s nothing better than to turn around and watch a crowd of people come through your place and just walk out with smiles and tears of joy when they walk out.”
The single-night haunt is on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2856 Hastings Road, from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.
