El-Vi Farms, sat on the front lawn of the Newark Middle School Monday, in preparation for the School Library's More than 200 pumpkins, donated by Bodine and Halloween Reading Project and Contest.

Sandy Snyder, Middle School Librarian said, "The Great Pumpkin's Rising From the Library Patch Contest requires students to choose a book, read it, submit both a brief summary of a character in the book, and a pumpkin decorated as one of the characters

The kids are pictured here selecting their pumpkins, which will be judged. Prizes donated by On Cue, Showplace 5 and Pizza Hut, will be awarded on October 27, to the students with the most creative and well-decorated pumpkins. A McDonald coupon will be provided to all those who enter the program.

The decorated pumpkins willl be on display at the Middle School foyer on October 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for public viewing.

(Sandi Marcano photos)