Snow White, Cleopatra and Beetlejuice walk into a bar.

Sounds like a joke, right? Nope, it was the third annual Ghoulwill Ball.

Additional Photos

Goodwill employees Kimberly Curry of Portland, as a tourist from Mexico; Michelle Smith of Portland, as Hester Prynne from “The Scarlet Letter”; and Manny Archibald of Gray, as Beetlejuice Photos by Amy Paradysz

Anna Kemner of Boston, as a witch, and makeup artist Natali Hudson of Portland, as The Crow, the costume awarded the grand prize

Windblown Man (Mark Woodbury of Falmouth) and the Green Monster, aka Steve Giles of Portland

The award for Most Creative Use of Goodwill Finds went to the Addams Family: Helena, Hunter and Matthew Arbo of Cumberland (as Wednesday, Pugsley and Lurch); Peggy and Rich Williams of Richmond (as Grandmama and Uncle Fester); and Amy Harren of Greenwood (as Morticia). Even The Thing was present ... as The Thing.

About 130 alter-egos dressed up and rocked out to The Waiters at Port City Music Hall. Tickets plus sponsorships from Healey & Associates, Clark Insurance, Pro Search, and Woodin & Co. raised $15,000 for Goodwill’s job coaching programs for people with disabilities.

Partygoers were greeted by a laughably motley-looking assortment of Goodwill employees, including event organizer Trendy Stanchield, dressed as a surgeon and tending to party triage.

“It was upbeat and full of energy and everybody was there for a really good reason,” Stanchfield said. “When we advertise the event, we market it that you can shop at Goodwill stores to buy pieces for your costume and come to an event to raise money for our programs.”

Goodwill’s work force development, residential programs, and brain injury clinics have served more than 80,000 people in just the past year. In the residential program, support ranges from onetime resume-writing assistance to ongoing job counseling. In Maine alone, Goodwill has 23 residences for individuals with brain injuries or other barriers to independence, such as hearing impairment, autism or intellectual disability.

“Everything we do is with the idea that the person and family get to choose the life they want to live,” said Jane Driscoll, vice president of public relations for Goodwill of Northern New England. In an orange sweater and plaid miniskirt, she was dressed as Velma from the Scooby-Doo gang.

While guests enjoyed the free photo booth, cash bar, hors d’oeuvres from Black Tie Catering and live music, guest judges Erin Elizabeth from the Portland Phoenix and Shannon Bryan from MaineToday Media checked out the costumes. More than $500 in prize money was at stake.

“You want to see something you haven’t seen before,” Bryan explained. “Somebody who put stuff together and got creative with it. Like the Christmas Tree and Present — though they are totally shirking holiday boundaries.”

“I’m actually Jewish,” disclosed the Christmas Present, Hilary Rapkin of Falmouth. She looked at Will Stiles, the Christmas Tree lit up at the bar, and said, “I should have used Hanukkah paper.”

The grand prize went to The Crow — Natali Hudson, a makeup artist from Portland, whose self-professed passion for Halloween makeup was written all over her completely disguised face.

Most Creative Use of Goodwill Finds went to the Addams Family — Matthew, Helena and Hunter Arbo of Cumberland (as Lurch, Wednesday, and Pugsley); Rich and Peggy Williams of Richmond (as Uncle Fester and Grandmama); and Amy Harren of Greenwood (as Morticia). Even The Thing was present … as The Thing.

The People’s Choice award went to the Hangover group (including Adam Gagne of Windham as Alan, wearing a doll on his chest). Finalists included Joel Marquis of South Portland (as Prince) and Mark Woodbury of Falmouth (as Windblown Man).

The Best Group Theme went to All in the Family — Brett and Amy Davis of Pownal (as Archie and Gloria), and Scott Smart and Sharon Leddy-Smart of South Portland (as Meathead and Edith).

The Goodwill drawing prize went to Katie Lisnik, who dressed as a Steam Punk Explorer — a time traveler from the Victorian era.

And if there had been an “In the News” category, it would have gone to Colette Bouchard, who works in the Goodwill Office of Workforce Solutions. In a nod to the presidential debates, she dressed as a Binder of Women.

Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer based in Scarborough. She can be reached at:

amyedits@aol.com

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