Source: Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03300/234525.stm

On October 27, 2003 Post-Gazette reported that many children of conservative Christian, Jewish or Muslim religious traditions will opt out of Halloween parties this year because they view Halloween as a day that commemorates the devil or encourages pagan worship. "'There is a cultural war over Halloween,' said Charles Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center who has become a national expert...

Source: Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows News

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3203687.stm

On October 22, 2003 the BBC News reported that "a Norwegian woman setting up shop as a witch has been awarded a government grant worth 53,000 kroner ($7,500; �4,500). Her business, Forest Witch Magic Consulting, will tell fortunes, teach magic tricks at corporate seminars, and offer potions and creams to cure for problems ranging from sleeplessness to bad habits.

A condition of the grant is that...

Source: The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=61197&ran=105263

On October 18, 2003 The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star published an editorial in which Michael Murphy discussed the unease with which many pagans celebrate Halloween. "Most Pagans will, as I do, stay at home and find private ways to celebrate," he writes. "It isn't that we don't want to participate publicly in the occasion; we...

Source: Des Moines Register

http://www.dmregister.com/business/stories/c4789010/22452013.html

On October 16, 2003 Des Moines Register profiled Jo VonStein, a Wiccan practitioner and the owner of a Des Moines store specializing in Wiccan Practices. VonStein claims that her eclectic methods of counseling and teaching are today reaching a broad spectrum of Des Moines residents, with Iowa residents embracing her philosophy. "Some of the people who...

Source: The Sylva Herald

http://www.thesylvaherald.com/a-pagans_100903.htm

On October 9, 2003 The Sylva Herald reported that "religious debate returned to Sylva last week as a local Baptist preacher and pagan high priestess traded volleys during an Oct. 2 meeting of Sylva's town board. Speaking for the pagans, High Priestess Lianna Costantino-Cardon of the Sylvan Hearth Pagan Temple refuted statements the Rev. Larry Perry made about her group during the board's Sept. 4...

Source: The Press and Journal

Source: Laurel Leader

Source: The Morning Sun

http://morningsun.net/stories/092803/loc_20030928046.shtml

On September 28, 2003 The Morning Sun reported: "At first sight, the gathering Saturday at Lincoln Park could have been a typical church picnic, with burgers on the grill and children playing on the grass. But there were a few differences, such as all the tie-dye clothing and the drums, and the 5 p.m. ritual in observance of Mabon. 'That's the Autumn Equinox, and perhaps the...

Source: The Register Herald

http://www.register-herald.com/articles/2003/09/27/news/xpaganfront28.txt

On September 26, 2003 The Register Herald reported that "more than 50 pagans assembled at Greenbrier State Forest Saturday in honor of Pagan Pride Day - the sixth annual internationally and the fifth in West Virginia. Paganism is a nature-based religion, [Rev. John "Rhymer"] Clair explained. Followers worship based on an agricultural calendar and...

Source: Azle News Online

http://www.azle-news.com/news/get-news.asp?id=2393&catid=1&cpg=get-news. asp

On September 26, 2003 Azle News Online reported that "a [Texas] school district policy that allows student-led religious groups to meet allowed the formation of Azle High School’s first 'pagan' club this year. After a failed attempt to form such a club two years ago, AHS senior Ashleigh Skaggs got permission to form SPELL (Society of...

Source: The Kalamazoo Gazette Online

http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/106344865999430.xml?kzgazette?COCM

On September 13, 2003 The Kalamazoo Gazette reported on a local Pagan Pride Day, sponsored by Pagan Pride of Kalamazoo, a nonprofit, interfaith organization. The article described the festivities, to be held in a local park: "On hand to celebrate the annual Pagan Pride Day will be pagan clergy, people who call...

Source: new Witch Magazine

On August 21, 2003 newWitch Magazine issued a press release stating that "in an email sent July 15, 2003, to newWitch Editor-In-Chief Anne Newkirk Niven, California-based apparel and accessory retail chain Hot Topic (http://www.hottopic.com) admitted a company policy of religious discrimination in merchandise selection for their stores. According to Papergoods Buyer Marissa Mitchell, '[newWitch] sounds great, and potentially would have been a good fit for our stores a few years back when...

Source: The Daily Telegraph

On August 10, 2003 The Daily Telegraph reported, "Druids have been brought in to reduce the number of accidents on Austria's worst stretches of autobahn. The Druids have put up huge roadside monoliths to restore the natural flow of 'earth energy'. After the massive pillars of white quartz were put up beside a notorious stretch of road during a secret two-year trial, the number of fatal accidents fell from an average of six a year to zero."

Source: Austin American-Statesman

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/sunday/metro_state_f353de6a066250a7005c.html;COXnetJSessionID=1C1rYsRxj0VOOBaLAACq2yz8tiPbimF1Lw2FK1oyTaMdJ5RNt7dQ!-258867719?urac=n...