Of Human Interest: News' lighter side

THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL

Key West, Fla.'s Fantasy Fest is renown for the eccentric and outrageous. This year, it'll also be known for honoring America and helping to raise funds for victims in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Like all Americans, Key Westers are horrified at the events of Sept. 11," said festival co-director Debbie Bradford. "So we have expanded our 'Secrets of the Zodiac Revealed' theme to celebrate freedom and peace, as well as provide venues to honor rescuers and help raise money for victims."

The festival runs Oct. 19-28.

Among Fantasy Fest's most popular events is the WKEY Pet Masquerade and Parade, a costume competition for pets and their people scheduled for Oct. 24. This year, dogs and their handlers who helped in the rescue work have been invited to attend as special guests. A percentage of proceeds will be donated to organizations helping New York City animals in need.

Each float in this year's BellSouth Fantasy Fest Parade, set for Oct. 27 on Key West's Duval Street, will fly American flags. The parade will be led by flag-bearing horses.

"Because the parade route stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, the horses and floats will be carrying the flags from sea to shining sea," said parade coordinator Judi Bradford.

Key West charitable organizations have been invited to use the parade and an Oct. 26 Florida Lottery Street Fair as venues to continue fundraising efforts for victims.

(Web site: fla-keys.com/fantasyfestmedia)

OOOO, SCARY STUFF!

Alice Cooper is welcoming the public to his nightmare.

On Thursday, the rocker and Phoenix, Ariz., restaurant owner will open "Alice Cooper's Nightmare," a Halloween haunted house featuring a combination of high-tech Hollywood and rock 'n' roll special effects --- many of which were created by Distortions Unlimited, the designer of Cooper's tour effects, including the requisite guillotine.

The haunted house is located next to Alice Cooper'stown. It'll be open Wednesdays through Sundays, Oct. 4 through Oct. 21, and nightly from Oct. 22 through Nov. 3.

A special grand opening will be held Thursday, with 100 percent of proceeds to benefit the Sept. 11 Relief Funds.

JESUS IS COMING TO QATAR

Qatar will allow Christian churches to be built in a special area near the capital, a senior official of that Persian Gulf emirate told UPI Tuesday.

Roman Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox sanctuaries will be built in a fenced-in compound near the Marriott hotel in Ras Abu Abboud, a suburb west of Doha, Qatar's capital city, the official said.

"Our government has offered the Christian denominations a large piece of real estate for this purpose. It's now up to each of them to design their buildings," he added.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., called the move "part of a well thought-out strategy of the current emir to liberalize his country." The congressman noted specifically the recent municipal elections -- the first in the petroleum-rich nation -- and the voting rights granted to women.

"Construction work on the church compound will probably begin next year," the Qatari official said. He said negotiations were currently underway between the denominations on how to divide up the land allotted to them by the government.

Three-fourths of Qatar's estimated 700,000 inhabitants are foreigners, and of those many are Christians. So far, Qatar has prohibited the public practice of any religion other than the strict Wahhabi variety of Sunni Islam. However, informal worship of other religions in private homes is allowed.

Commented the Qatari official, "We want our guests to feel comfortable practicing their faiths."

But will these churches have spires with crosses and bells calling Christians to worship? "I think not," the official said.

REASONS TO CELEBRATE TODAY:

WEDNESDAY: Honduras observes the Francisco Morazan Holiday today. Morazan, a national hero, was born on this date in 1799.

This is National Foundation Day in Korea, commemorating the founding of the Korean kingdom in 2333 B.C.

And Netherlands celebrates the Relief of Leiden Day today, a holiday marking the liberation of Leiden in 1574.

(Thanks to Chase's 2001 Calendar of Events)

BY THE WAY...

Until it was surpassed by "Sesame Street," this show was television's longest-running children's series. What?

"Captain Kangeroo," which premiered on this date in 1955. Bob Keeshan starred as the captain. The series aired on CBS and PBS until 1985.