Friday fright night at All Saints

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood - All Saints Academy was the place to be on Friday night if you were a kid looking for a fun time.

The annual "Fun Frolic" event in the All Saints Catholic Academy gymnasium typically draws more than 2,000 kids and their parents for games, food, costume contests and of course, the famous haunted house.

"I liked going through the spooky house," said Audriana Carli, 7, of Ironwood. The scariest part was "when the hand popped out," she said.

Dean Carli, her father, said they've been taking her to the event for years and she always has a good time. The game are fun but it's about being at an event with practically everyone in town with a kid also attending, he said.

"It's everything, Carli said. "A lot of her school mates are here."

Madison Sterbenz, 14, Ironwood, is a former All Saints student and a parishioner of Our Lady of Peace Parish. She has volunteered for years and this year led the kids into the haunted house that stretched the length of the second floor of the school. This year the members of Boy Scouts Troop 323-BT, which meet monthly at All Saints, put together the haunted house, with much effect, she said.

A few of the kids came out crying but they get "rescued" by a member of the Ironwood Police Department. But more often the kids kept coming back for more scary fun.

"There are lots of people who come up here," Sterbenz said. "There is always a huge line of people."

Rose Oja, Ironwood, said she has brought her nine children to the event for years. They love the haunted house and the games, she said.

"It's a safe place for the kids," Oja said. "I can let 'em run. I know almost everybody here, year after year."

Brian Panich and Joanne Lauzon put together the food concessions. As members of Our Lady of Peace Parish they have ran the booth for years but ran it together this year for the first time.

"I'd say that it's probably our busiest food year in years," Panich said.

The menu is aimed at kids with things like Sloppy Joe's and hot dogs, walking tacos, nacho cheese and chili and cheese sticks. They tweak it every year but keep it simple, he said.

April Lynott, All Saints librarian and activities coordinator, is also the event organizer who coordinates the efforts of many volunteers.

"I couldn't do it without the 60 people who bring it all together," Lynott said.

This is the biggest parish fundraiser of the year but it's really designed as a community outreach that goes beyond the school and the parish to include the community, she said.

"We like having the kids here," she said. "It's for everybody in the area and the surrounding area."

The event has been going on for as long as Lynott can remember. She's has worked at the event for the past 14 years and it was going on long before, she said.

"I remember coming when I was a little kid, so that is a long time," Lynott said.

The event also runs on a lot of donations for the games and prizes, she said.