Some scary science at Mitchell

New London — It was green and gooey and almost creeping, as if it had a life of its own.
But 4-year-old Connor Morse, who stood on a chair stirring the stuff with a wooden spoon in his caterpillar costume, wasn't scared. Using a simple mix of glue, borax, green food coloring and water, he was making even more.
Kids got to take home the slime they made — to some parents' dismay — with a warning that it was not edible. The activity was just one of many at Mitchell College's Family Halloween Festival.
Sponsored by the college's Behavioral Science Club, the event was developed by professor Don Helms in 1994 as a way to bring local families to campus to meet the students and to be part of the community.
This was the event's third year. Last year, it brought out more than 450 people, said Jennifer Mauro, faculty adviser of the club, which has about 40 members.
"It's a great way to interact with the community," she said. "It's completely run by students, faculty and staff."
Children dressed as cowboys, princesses and superheroes marched around the Clarke Center for a costume parade every half hour, many wielding balloon swords. They stopped to decorate trick-or-treating bags and beaded jewelry and to play games, such as the always tricky attempt to eat a doughnut on a string.
The dance team performed to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and the Drama Society did a skit called "Witches Dance Party," while the New London Police Department offered Halloween safety tips.
The event was free, but organizers requested a donation of a non-perishable canned food item to be given to the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Pantry.
Julia Diamant, president of the club, said money raised through a raffle would benefit the club's annual holiday party for kids in the SAFE Home program through the Department of Children and Families and other events.
"We're really into community service," Diamant said. "The community just needs something ... they need to have a little fun."
k.warchut@theday.com