BRADENTON BEACH – The 2024 hurricanes may have taken the animatronic figures, the bubble machine and the hearse that the Bridge Tender Inn was known for at Halloween, but the party will still go on this year.
“The animatronics were destroyed in the storms, and we haven’t had the funds or time to replace them. The priority was fixing the building,” said manager Sue Shinka, adding, “It took us 15 years to get all the animatronics.”
This giant skeleton greets those who enter the haunted alleyway. – Leslie Lake | Sun
The Bridge Street alley on the west side of the Bridge Tender is decorated with skeletons, and, as in years past, there will be a kids’ costume contest, a dog costume contest and an adult costume contest, all with cash prizes.
The costume contest for dogs starts at 5:30 p.m. – Leslie Lake | Sun
“We’re still doing Halloween, but it’s going to be a little more low-key,” Shinka said.
The Bridge Tender Inn party on Friday, Oct. 31 at 135 Bridge St. features Brigid’s Cross playing music at 2 p.m., a kids’ costume contest at 5 p.m., a dog costume contest at 5:30 p.m., Justin Rector playing music at 6 p.m. and an adult costume contest at 10 p.m.
BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 was filled with the sights and sounds of Halloween during the annual kids’ Halloween party on Saturday.
This year’s party took on greater significance for lodge officers and volunteers because last year’s party had to be held at Bradenton Moose Lodge 1223 due to the extensive damage Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused at the beachfront lodge in Bradenton Beach.
For the youngsters, it was simply a fun-filled Saturday morning that included French toast sticks for breakfast, games, a costume parade, a dance party, story time, a jelly bean guessing contest and a bag of treats for each youngster to take home with them.
“This is home,” Moose volunteer and party organizer Sandra Zenzel said as the party began. “We’re thrilled to be back at our lodge for our parties again. We’re finally back home where we need to be for our parties. Enjoy, and happy early Halloween.”
She also thanked the other Women of the Moose who helped organize the party.
When speaking to The Sun, Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said, “Today’s our annual kids’ Halloween party the Women of the Moose put on for our members. We’ve got about a hundred kids here.”
When asked how it felt to have the kids’ Halloween party back at Lodge 2188 again, Dalton said, “Phenomenal.”
The costume selections reflected the youngsters’ interests and personalities. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe youngsters lined up to share their names and identify their costumes. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After he gathered the costumed children for a group photo, Dalton suggested an impromptu dance party and requested some music. Using her cell phone, Fox 13 reporter and party attendee Kimberly Kuizon acted quickly and provided the dance music.
At one point, some of the younger children gathered around Zenzel as she read “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.”
During story time, Sandra Zenzel read “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Two-year-old Bryson Price came closest to correctly guessing the number of jelly beans contained in a large, covered drinking glass. He guessed 195 and there were 187.
The adult Halloween party will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 and begin around 6 p.m., with karaoke being sung on the beachfront patio as part of the festivities.
Queen of Hearts
The hurricane-damaged Moose Lodge has been operating at full speed for several months. The social quarters, bar area and second story deck reopened on May 1 and the storm surge-ravaged dining room opened ahead of schedule a couple months later.
The weekly Wednesday evening Queen of Hearts drawing that began before the 2024 hurricanes struck came to an end last week when one lucky local Moose member bought the winning ticket that opened the envelope containing the elusive Queen of Hearts.
“The winner walked away with about $270,000 after taxes,” Dalton said.
The Queen of Hearts drawing that began before the 2024 hurricanes was recently won. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The next Queen of Hearts drawing will begin in about 60 days.
“Everybody that worked the Queen drawings needs a rest,” Dalton said.
With just under 18,000 members, the AMI Moose Lodge has the largest membership of any Moose Lodge in the world.
Grand reopening
On Saturday, Nov. 1, the AMI Moose Lodge will host its post-hurricane grand reopening celebration.
“We have some special visitors coming down. Scott Hart is the chief executive officer of Moose International and that’s the highest position you can hold in the Moose fraternity. He’s coming to visit us for the first time,” Dalton said.
John Reiter, the Inverness-based chairman of the Moose International Board of Directors will also attend the grand reopening, joined by additional board members.
“There’s going to be some heavy hitters here to visit us as part of the grand reopening,” Dalton said.
The AMI Moose Lodge will host a special grand reopening dinner on Saturday, Nov. 1. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The special grand reopening dinner menu will feature filet mignon served with two extra-large blue crab-stuffed shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes and fried green beans. Tuesday, Oct. 28 is the deadline to purchase a $34.95 dinner ticket.
After dinner, Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots will provide the live music from 6:30-10 p.m., performing on the beachfront, ground-level patio. Moose members don’t need a dinner ticket to enjoy the live music and other after-dinner festivities.
Bennett, 2, came as Blippi, the children’s TV character. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Maverick, 3, came as Tamatoa, from the Disney movie, “Moana.” - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Rowan Slicker said he came as “one of those wavy guys.” - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Kai Rosbury and Joey Smith played a kids’ version of cornhole. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bryson Price, 2, won the jelly bean guessing contest. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Joey Smith threw inflatable rings at her dad, Adam Smith. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The grown-ups enjoyed the party too. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
BRADENTON – The Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge and Bradenton Moose Lodge threw a fun-filled children’s Halloween party on Oct. 28.
AMI Moose Lodge #2188 in Bradenton Beach is temporarily closed while the dining room floors are being replaced. The previously scheduled renovations resulted in the lodge needing a place to host its annual children’s Halloween party and Bradenton Moose Lodge #1223 offered its lodge for the occasion.
Upon arrival, the youngsters were greeted by Moose members standing near a long table filled with candy and treats to be placed in their candy bags.
The arriving children discovered a large, candy-filled table. – Joe Hendricks | SunA skeleton cat guarded the candy table. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
AMI Moose Lodge Senior Regent Debbie Eisenback said, “We are having a fabulous Halloween bash for the kids. We have face painting; we’re going to have pinatas to bash and a costume contest.”
Dressed as a “Thomas the Train” conductor, Sebastian Cascio set his sights on the candy-filled pinata. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe children scrambled after the candy that fell from the pinata. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Using a “pinata buster,” the younger attendees were the first to take five swings each at a pumpkin-themed pinata containing three pounds of candy. Several swings by many children were needed before the cardboard pinata burst open and sent the kids in hot pursuit of the fallen candy. The older kids then got their swings at a ghost-themed pinata that lasted long enough for some of the younger kids to take some extra swings too.
Samara Entler took several good swings at the ghost-themed pinata. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe youngsters pounced on the pinata’s fallen candy. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The partygoers were treated to a lunch featuring chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese bites prepared by chefs Kyla and Zack.
During the costume contest, the contestants paraded past the two judges who sat at a table filled with games, puzzles and other prizes.
While the party unfolded, AMI Moose Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said, “The Bradenton Moose was kind enough to host the kid’s Halloween costume party for us because our lodge is undergoing floor renovations. We’ll be open again the first week in December. They’ve been very accommodating and it shows good workmanship between the two lodges. One of the main reasons for the Moose’s existence is to support children and seniors and to do things for the community. It’s a great combination of kids from both lodges and we’re keeping the kids happy.”
AMI Moose member Cheryl Clark lost her pirate’s battle with two Spidermen and a dinosaur. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Standing next to Dalton, Bradenton Lodge Administrator Wanda Ayers said, “We’ve struggled here with kids’ Halloween parties because we have an older crowd. We started getting a younger crowd a couple of years ago because we had indoor cornhole, and that crowd has children. I was so excited when Byron called and asked if we could partner on the party. We’ve got the room and that way our kids can come and their kids can come. It turned out wonderful. We have well over 50 to 60 kids.”
Ayers said she and Dalton have worked together before as lodge administrators and the cooperation between lodges helps build the Moose fraternity.
AMI Moose Lodge administrator Byron Dalton (wearing blue shirt) thanked the volunteers from both lodges for their efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Before the party ended, Dalton called forward the volunteers from both lodges and thanked them for making the party a success.
BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge #2188 celebrated Halloween with a children’s party Saturday morning and an adult party that evening.
The Women of the Moose organized the children’s Halloween festivities that included a costume parade, games, Halloween music, candy, gifts and a free lunch consisting of chicken tenders and fries.
Aurora Kelley, 6, and Adalee Kelley, 4, dressed as policewomen, accompanied by Kevin Kelley, who dressed as an inmate. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We’ve got lots of games for the kids. We’re going to be playing musical chairs, hangman, hot potato and we’ll ask them to guess the number of candies in a jar. We’ve got lots and lots of fun,” Moose Regent Joy Shames said.
Brody Miller, 3, came to the party as Buzz Lightyear. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Accompanied by his daughter, Julia, and son, Jaxson, Jonathon Spence said, “We’ve come here two years in a row and the kids absolutely love it. They have so much fun and we look forward to it each year.”
AMI Moose Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said, “It’s another great event by the men and the women of the lodge – doing things for the community. We’re making the kids happy and we hope they don’t forget about the Moose lodge when they grow up.”
When asked how the Halloween party ties into the Moose lodge’s overall mission, Dalton said, “Children and seniors are the number one priorities of our fraternity.”
Joy Shames, Karen Paul, Sherry Fragapane, Sam Watters, Donna Hale, Chris Mignogna and Pam Constantini were among the Women of the Moose who helped organize the children’s Halloween party. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
