North Cheektowaga Courier/ Friday, October 17, 2014
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OCTOBER 17, 2014
Haunted House raises money for a good cause
Libraries aren’t just for books
By Debra Kelly
COURIER CORRESPONDENT
When it comes to the typical fundraisers, the STARRC Raving Mad House isn’t it. In the true spirit of the Halloween season, it promises all the fun terror that goes along with haunted houses, ghostly apparitions, and more than a few knifewielding madmen. Even the most stubbornly unflappable person won’t make it through the haunted house without their heart missing a few beats, and not only is it a fun time for adults, children and entire families, but it’s all for a good cause. “All proceeds go directly to the church,” says Charles Lambert, one of the founders of the haunted house. “We’re the fall fundraiser for them.” And it’s one of the church’s buildings that has been transformed into a celebration of Halloween and all that’s ghostly and ghoulish. Located on the corner of Gierlach and Crocker, dedicated and hardworking volunteers have put in some long hours to turn the St. Andrews Church Building #1 into one of the area’s most fun haunted houses. It might seem an odd juxtaposition, a haunted house and a church, but part of the attraction of the STARRC Raving Mad House is that it’s not your typical fundraiser. There’s nothing typical about it, in fact, and
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22, the Anna Reinstein Memorial Library will be putting aside the books and bringing out the pumpkins for a massively entertaining evening that promises to be fun for the whole family. For those who are regulars at the library, you probably know Mr. J. He’s the one with the magic show, which was a summertime favorite. Now, in the spirit of the fall season, he’s going to be back at the library bringing something special and seasonally appropriate. Chances to get outside and celebrate the fall season are happening all over Western New York, and the library’s no exception. They’re hoping that not only will people come to take advantage of the few cool, clear fall days that we have left, but that they’ll also be staying to pick out some books. “This pumpkin patch will be a new thing for me to experience!” says the library’s Danielle White, who only began working at the library in June. It just goes to show that there’s always something new going on at the library, and it’s always something that staff can get excited about as well as the town.
All proceeds go directly to the church. that’s what keeps people coming back year after year. Telling just what’s in the haunted house would be giving away a lot of the fun and surprises. We can say, though, that they’re going to be featuring a 20-foot-long spinning tunnel that visitors will have to traverse on a footbridge, while trying to keep their balance and their wits about them. The haunted house is being enough to be scary for those who want a fright-filled evening, but younger visitors don’t have to be afraid if they don’t want to. Many of the scares come from actors
who understand that it might be a little much for younger visitors, and respect that everyone’s looking for a little something different in their haunted house experience. The goal is, after all, to make sure that everyone has a great time and comes back for next year. The house is an everevolving feature, so those who visited last year might find some things have changed. They’re always looking for new ideas and new features, and it’s a work in progress even as it’s being constructed in the church’s building. A true collaboration
and labor of love, it’s that which makes the house stand apart from the rest. The haunted house is open through the month of October, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children, with group rates available for those who contact the house in advance. For $1 off admission, bring a non-perishable food item for inclusion in the church’s food bank. For more information, visit starrcravingmadhouse.com, or friend them on Facebook.
The “Wizard” of Comfort.
CIRCULATION 14,398
By Debra Kelly
COURIER CORRESPONDENT
“Natural Gas. Your Best Energy Value.”
“Mr. J and his assistant will be setting up a pumpkin patch and a small petting zoo,” she says. “We’ll have a tent if the weather doesn’t cooperate, and there’s plenty of space in front of the library, to the side and behind it, so we’ll make the most of those areas.” If there’s anything that you don’t expect to see at the library, it’s a petting zoo. There will be plenty of animals on hand to meet and greet visitors, and if there’s one thing that all kids love, it’s meeting some new furry and feathered friends. Mr. J will also be bringing his magic show back to the library, which is also always a hit with the kids and adults alike. While a petting zoo and a pumpkin patch might seem like something of an odd thing to have at thae library, it fits in perfectly with the new, 21st century libraries. Today, libraries are all about being fun, exciting places that kids of all ages can go to hang out, enjoy, and explore new things; that no longer means just sitting in silence and reading some books or doing some homework. Today, libraries are all sorts of fun. To register for the event, call the library at 8928089, or, better yet, sign up in person.