Prison guard puts hobby to work

A local holiday tradition will be taking to the high seas this year.Russell "Briz" Brizendine's "Halloween Creations" displays have thrilled many for more than 20 years. His love of putting together ambitious and detailed holiday displays started as a kid."Christmas was a big time for me," he said. "My father loved to decorate the house, the yard . . . everything. Remember the Griswolds and the 'Christmas Vacation' movie? It was like that."It wasn't just Christmas, Brizendine said. "Halloween also became a big decoration project. Like Christmas, I love Halloween," he said. "It's a time for families to have fun. And, I want to make sure that people can really enjoy themselves."For more than 20 years, Brizendine has been putting on his elaborate Halloween displays all throughout the area. He also works as a correctional officer at Folsom Prison. "This year, I'm setting up a large display at the Veterans Hall," he said.According to Brizendine, "it's for a very good cause."He's teaming up with the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars during Halloween week to help out local families.The display is part of a food drive called "Supporting Families of Folsom." All people have to do, Brizendine explained, is bring a can of food. "That's the admission. That's all they have to do. Each person brings a can of food and with that," he said, "people can have a good time and help out others in the community."Brizendine liked the idea of helping others out and planned to create a very special display.The display, he said, comprises interior and exterior set pieces — the latter includes the traditional haunted cemetery. "It's a big project," he said. He took a week off to work on the seasonal display. Usually, Brizendine spends a month working on a display."Since other people use the Hall a lot," he said, "I have to squeeze a month's work into this one week. It's a challenge but I love it."This year's theme is "Pirates of the Caribbean.""I'm combining things that I really love," Brizendine said. "I love 'Pirates' (the film) as much as I love Halloween."Ron Hawn, with the American Legion, said the event should be a good one for families."We're expecting a lot of kids and families coming through," Hawn said. "There will be a lot to see. Briz is a great guy and people know him and his work. He's been featured on the (TV news) before."The display includes two pirate ships — one of which is wrecked and on the beach — and several cutout figures of pirates. Brizendine said the huge display will have so much detail that "people will need to see it more than once" to enjoy it."Trust me — people are really going to love this," he said.The display opened Oct. 26 and runs through Halloween night, from 5 to 10 p.m. ---KNOW AND GOBriz's 21st annual "Halloween Creations"When: 5-10 p.m. through Oct. 31Where: Veterans Hall, 1300 Forrest St., FolsomCost: Can of food