Paranormal Investigator Mary Ann Winkowski Coming to Lakeland for Halloween

Mary Ann Winkowski, a world-renowned paranormal investigator and Ohio native, will host a night of of ghost-talk Oct. 28 at Lakeland Community College.

For those who don't know what a paranormal investigator is, Winkowski's fulltime vocation is functioning as an intermediary between the living and ghosts -- or, as Winkowski prefers to call them, earthbound spirits.

Winkowski has written several books about her experiences and is the inspiration for CBS's The Ghost Whisperer.

She will host a dinner at Lakeland and, afterward, lead a casual, fun and informative discussion about earthbound spirits.

"People are still afraid of the unknown. Especially with our youth obsessed culture, death has been sanitized and cleaned up. Many do not want to talk about it," Winkowski said. "So the fear of ghosts goes right along with the fear of death when in fact it is a very natural part of being human."

Tickets are $50 per person and include dinner at 6 p.m. on the college campus at Breakers Dining Hall followed by Winkowski’s discussion at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets for one of the seven seats at Winkowski’s table are $100 per person. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. lecture only are $25. Reservations can be made on the college's website.

Afterward, Mentor's will host a booksigning with Winkowski in the art center's foyer.

As a teaser for her talk, Winkowski has offered the top five hints an earthbound spirit may be residing in your home:

• Electrical appliances keep breaking.

• Your dog or cat refuses to go to certain rooms or areas.

• Sudden onset of headaches

• Consistent colds, flu or fatigue

• You have a sudden and unexplained interest in something new