Page 10
The Behrend Beacon
On The Road...
uch Chagrin over a strange pumpkin-covered event
by Melody Sherosky
contributing writer
When I reached Ohio last weekend,
I intended to write a basic article
about the goings-on of a town
southeast of Cleveland. With little
chagrin, I was pleased to find that
Chagrin Falls, Ohio, had much more
to offer than one article could hold.
Because I got caught up in the spirit
of this area's seasonal activities, I plan
to return there in the future to get the
big picture of this often-unusual
place.
As we speak, the residents of Cha
grin Falls are preparing again to dis
pose of their Halloween pumpkins in
a controversial manner. In fact, some
students and families have been sav
ing hundreds of pumpkins for the an
nual event that has sent some to the
hospital and almost always brings out
the Chagrin police. Hundreds of
pumpkins will be thrown, rolled and
destroyed on the steep Grove Hill in
the heart of Chagrin Falls. Then, ev
eryone will grab their cardboard or
sled and slides down the hill on the
slippery pumpkin innards.
You can imagine what a mess this
might cause, and also how many risks
are involved. Businesses on Grove
Hill are concerned about property
damage and some parents are con
cerned about the welfare of their chil
dren as they slide down slippery con
crete. But the annual Pumpkin Roll,
now in its 33rd year, is a well-attended
community event.
The Pumpkin Roll started in Cha-
Hot Spots in Erie
-Mart has two
by Karl Benacci
features editor
Stores seem to be getting big
ger and bigger, trying to outlast
one another. However, only one
store may claim the title as
"king." This store is Wal-Mart.
There are a number of local
Wal-Mart's, including locations
on 4950 West 26th Street and
1900 Keystone Drive (Near
Peach Street next to Kohl's De
partment Store.)
Wal-Mart has nearly every-
ocations an
grin Falls in 1969, when teenagers rolled
69 pumpkins down the hill while other
residents attended a basketball game. A
few years later, sliding down the hill on
the pumpkin sludge became common.
Now, some families and many teenag
ers save their pumpkins weeks in ad
vance. All of the jack-o-lanterns left on
Chagrin porches after Halloween usu
Wal-Mart
oro store
thing one could want, for it is much
like a K-Mart store on steroids.
Wal-Mart has what many stores
stock, including a clothing section,
food, sporting goods, and books; how
ever, it has much, much more!
Wal-Mart also has many unique
items such as fish, toe socks and bark
ing cookie jars, which brings many
smiles to one's face.
Smiling faces may also be observed
throughout Wal-Mart's stores.
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Pr i - 11
Ira
Friday, November 2, 2001
wnspeq
ally get commandeered, as well.
The event has no set date, but always
happens during the week after Hallow
een. One resident explained that a few
of the families who collect the most
pumpkins are responsible for deciding
when it happens. Junior and senior Cha
grin Falls high school students, who are
the major attendees of the Pumpkin
As is seen in commercials, a smil
ing yellow head is displayed on many
price signs, denoting low prices on
certain items.
One can go into Wal-Mart not ex
pecting to buy anything at all, yet can
leave the store with many items.
Vast selection and great prices defi
nitely go hand in hand, making Wal-
Mart a definite Hot Spot in Erie.
, zi rk
Roll, then spread word of the event the
night it begins. The spontaneity seems
to he important to the residents, since
several people are concerned about talk
that the event might become sanctioned
by the city. The lack of a set date also
prevents out-of-towners from attending
and keeps the Pumpkin Roll a relatively
closed community event.
Cold Erie weather
brings Penguins
On Thursday, The Distorted Penguins
invaded Bruno's, performed before a
large crowd.
The band sang new songs from its
upcoming CD, old favorites and even
threw in a few covers.
The Distorted Penguins started with
the theme song from "Rocky" and
added to the enjoyment with their
versions of "Who Let the Dogs Out"
and "Ice Ice Baby."
The crowd' responded to the music
with positive actions. Some danced
with such items as glow sticks, while
others cheered.
The band is often classified as ska;
however, the band disagrees, stating it's
a bit of everything.
The Penguins feature six members,
by Karl Benaeci
features editor
Karl Benacci, Features Editor
behrcolls@aol.com
In the past, police were notified on
the night of the event because the
event has no set date. Until recently,
the police have turned their heads
while the potentially dangerous event
took place. The city also picked up the
bill for the massive clean up. In the
past few years, police in Chagrin Falls
have become more concerned about
the Pumpkin Roll. Injuries in the past
have mostly consisted of bumps and
scrapes, but a few broken bones have
also been reported. Worried about a
lawsuit against the city, last year the
police asked for waivers and proof of
insurance from attending students and
families. The police never followed
through, though, and the Pumpkin
Roll went on without a problem.
This year, there has been discussion
about police trying to block off the
roads to Grove Hill. The mayor and
councilmen have discussed charging
attendees for the clean up, or turning
the Pumpkin Roll into a city-spon
sored event. Several residents worry
that if it became a sanctioned event,
the rules and safety precautions would
be oppressive and that the spontane
ity and decades of tradition would be
lost. While the debate may go on for
years to come, city-residents will put
on the Pumpkin Roll this year even if
it means sliding down Grove Hill into
a pumpkin-splattered police car.
Of course there is more than the
pumpkin roll going on in Chagrin
Falls. That is why I will return, and of
course I will tell you all about it. Un
til next time...
BY JEFFHN4KEY
Derek Shank (vocals/guitar), Ben
Dettinbum (guitar/vocals), BiG-IstiK
(bass/screams), Derek Green (drums),
Steve Amtower (trurnivt/voctds) and
Jamie Durst (trombone/vmals).
The Distorted Penguins began in
the Morgantown/Pittsburgh music
scene and have _been together since
early 1996.
The band is influenced by the
Beastie Boys, the Beach Boys, Reel .
Big Fish and Green Day. The Penguins
have had great success with their
second album, Magic, which includes
"Cloud 9," "About You," "Drawn 4
and "Mr. Thompson."
They have performed with such
bands as Reel Big Fish, Less Than
Jake and Buzz Poets to name a few.
The Distorted Penguins' new album
will be out this spring. For more
information check out their website
at www.distortedpenguins.com