SUBMITTED PHOTO: Jaclyn Smith of Hatfield dresses of as Disney's Ursula for Halloween 2012

Sandy may have blasted through our neighborhoods and made a bit of a mess, but she does not have to put a damper on your Halloween spirit!

The Reporter is hosting a Halloween photo contest in which all individuals who enter will have a chance at winning a $20 gift card from Giant (something that may come in handy with power outages and loss of food in your fridge!)

The contest is easy. Today through Monday, Nov. 5, individuals will have the chance to send The Reporter pictures - of you, your kids, your pets, YOU NAME IT –  in Halloween garb and winner will be selected at random.  The winner will be announced online and in our print addition on Wednesday, Nov. 7, with Halloween photos (from those submitted) as our Lifestyle issue for the day.

Want to enter? There are four ways to do it:

1. Send us a picture via Twitter using the hashtag #LansToT and our handle @lansreporter
2. Send us a picture through Instagram using the hashtag #LansToT (PLEASE NOTE: IF YOUR ACCOUNT IS PRIVATE ON INSTAGRAM WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT.)
3. Send us a picture through our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/Lansreporter
4. Send us a picture through email to Community Engagement Editor, Amanda Piccirilli, apiccirilli@thereporteronline.com.

With your photos, please include your name and what municipality you are from. If you would like to send more details as a caption feel free.

Good luck to all and we hope you have a spooktacular Halloween!

Storify by Digital First Media

Storify by Digital First Media Some tips to help you cope.

View Hurricane Sandy hot spots in a larger map

By Michael Topel
Digital First Media

 A look at what people in the path of Frankenstorm should be doing right now to get ready.

Do you not have a smart phone? Do you not have an Instagram account? Do you not know what Instagram is?

No worries, The Reporter is allowing you to experience what Instagram is all about will a little help from us. (regardless if you have a smartphone or not!)

Instagram, a free photo-sharing program and social network, is becoming the new social networking hot spot, allowing people of all ages to snap a photo and share it with the world instantly.

At The Reporter, we obviously find written word a high importance; however, we also love to share stories through photos.

As our writers, photographs and editors are out in YOUR community, we are often taking photos of the NOW – giving you clips and images of what is taking place in your neighborhoods EXACTLY as they are happening.

Some people don’t have a cell phone, some people don’t have a smartphone and regardless of your cellular service (or lack thereof), The Reporter wants our readers to be able to see what we are capturing, especially on our Instagram account.

With Facebook applications, The Reporter’s Facebook followers can now see, share and comment on our Instagram photos without having an account.

All you have to do is click on the “Reporter’s Instagram” icon located at the top of our Facebook page and you can see every picture we post on Instagram. (See the photo below for example/location.)

Go ahead, “LIKE”, comment and share away. After all, these photos are for YOU, the readers. Enjoy! 

On Wednesday afternoon, executive editor Ann Cornell and community engagement editor Amanda Piccirilli will be stopping by Souderton Area High School where they will speak with staff, clubs and parents on ways to help publicize their events to the local media.

Here is the slide show that will be presented. Please feel free to use this presentation as a source:

Pr presentation from MandaPiccirilli

Have you heard footsteps upstairs when you know you are the only one in the house? Do your doors open and close on their own? Have you felt someone touch you only to turn around to find that no one is there?

Halloween is just around the corner and to celebrate The Reporter wants to hear about your paranormal experiences –  whether they have occurred in Lansdale, Souderton, Montgomeryville or somewhere else – for a special feature for our website and Oct. 30-31 print editions.

We will highlight the best stories leading up to Oct. 31 on our website. To share your story, simply fill out the form below and please be sure to identify yourself. Full names do not have to be used but we do appreciate first names and last initials.

Be sure to follow for live coverage of the Sandusky hearing taking place at the Centre County Courthouse today.

We saw your pooches for ‘Take Your Dog to Work Day,’ meow we want to see your kitties.

The Reporter is looking to celebrate National Cat Day, which falls on Oct. 29, and the puuurrrrr-fect way to do that is by meeting your kitty cats.

The Reporter wants to know how much you love your kitty cat(s). A slide show will be made with these purrr-cious friends of ours and some will be featured in an upcoming article on National Cat Day.

Want to have your cat’s cute face on The Reporter for all readers to see?

If so, the following is needed by Wednesday, Oct. 25 at noon:

Send an e-mail to Amanda Piccirilli, Community Engagement Editor, at apiccirilli@thereporteronline.com. In your e-mail include your name, your cat(s) name(s), where you are from, a photo of your furry friend(s) and why your cat is the greatest feline friend out there.