September 29, 2024 • 32 mins
In this episode we hear about all the work that it takes to put Frightfest - a spooky night of entertainment -- together for the residents of Prairie Crossing.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hey neighbors, it's Dan Bader and welcome to another episode of Around the Lake podcast.
(00:17):
I am walking around the lake today, it's September 29th, Sunday, with my newest walking companion.
Her name is Fletcher.
She's a rescue that we picked up at the Lake County Fairgrounds at a big adoption event
this weekend.
She is the sweetest dog and cuddly and a little bit the opposite of Watson, so she's a really
(00:43):
good fit for our family.
We're walking now just to practice some leash skills alone.
We've had a lot of walking this weekend, just getting Watson and her acclimated to each
other and her used to us and realize that we're her family now.
She is a husky mix, which is probably one of the reasons we adopted her because the
(01:07):
dog that we lost when we first moved here was also a husky mix and we loved her and
she was with us for 16 years and we still miss her, so Fletcher here is a little throwback
to her.
It's just about the golden hour, so I'm going counter-clockwise to keep the sun at my back
for most of the walk, at least that's the hope.
(01:30):
Gosh, the prairie has changed so much in just two weeks.
Moving towards those browns of late summer, early fall, and the purple flowers, I think
they're asters, but I'm probably wrong, are just gorgeous against the brown.
And the lake is so blue and the sky, you know, the cloudiness has kind of moved out and it's
(01:52):
puffy little clouds.
It's just amazing.
Today's episode we're talking to Gwen, Riccio, and Douglas Nurgie about Fright Fest, which
is coming up later this month, or later in October I should say.
Still got another day of September here.
And just about all the work that goes into it and all the volunteers and a little bit
(02:15):
about what it was like when they started living here and just what they bring to it and what
everybody brings to it.
So I hope you enjoy it.
Fletcher and I are going to keep walking here and doing some leash work, try to get her
a little better behaved and a little more accustomed to being on the leash and also
(02:36):
get her know prairie crossing a little bit.
Alright, well here is Gwen and Douglas.
Fletcher, stop, stop.
Good girl, good girl.
Okay, let's go.
Joining us today on the Around the Lake podcast is Gwen Riccio and Douglas Nurgie.
(02:59):
Thank you guys for being here.
Thanks for having us.
Thanks for having us.
So first let's start with introductions.
We don't know each other that well, any of us.
Gwen, let's start with you, tell us when did you move here, tell us about your family and
where you live.
Yeah, sure thing.
So my husband and I moved here back in 2006.
(03:20):
So we've been here about 18 years now and we live over on Blazing Star Road near the
other Gazebo fire pit.
When we first moved in we actually bought a condo.
We lived in the condo until we had our son and then when we were pregnant with our daughter
we moved into a house nearby.
And so that's, I've got a 13 year old son and an 11 year old daughter now.
(03:44):
And actually I'm right around the corner from this guy.
Okay, Douglas, tell us about you.
I'm Douglas Nurgie.
We moved in here in 2003 so it's been about 21 years.
I have almost a 21 year old girl and an 18 year old boy and we love prairie crossing.
Okay, well so the subject of today's episode is Fright Fest.
(04:10):
Just before we hit record you guys told me you didn't know exactly when it started but
tell me your first experience of Fright Fest and where it was and what it was like.
You want to start because you've been here a few years longer than me?
Not too much but I think I started in 2006 or 2005 and I was just a scarer at having
(04:31):
a scare stations.
It's just been a lot of fun.
It's kind of like, I don't know, theater.
So it's been a lot of fun and so that's when I started way back then.
Okay, how about you, Glenn?
So I started attending Fright Fest probably right after my son was born.
(04:51):
So that would have been 2011 would have been the first one because I have a picture of
him like in his little wrap on the hayride.
It was extra cold.
I had to put like my jacket over it that year and that was when we were still living in
the condos.
So it was really great because it was right down at that point it was Liz and Erin who
were in charge of it and so at that point we could just walk downstairs and get to meet
(05:14):
people in the neighborhood because there was a lot of especially the start separation between
the condos and the homeowners.
So getting to know more people getting to be a part of the community events and I love
Halloween so it's an event that I think there's only been maybe one of them we haven't been
able to make it to.
That's so cool.
Yeah.
So I guess I just learned and so I'll share I guess that there are two components of Fright
(05:39):
Fest.
There's a I guess front of house and then maybe a back of house or a party and a haunted
day ride.
How do you guys characterize and how Gwen's in charge?
Well tell us Gwen what's your part?
So I just took over last year from my neighbor Victoria and I run as you call the front of
(06:00):
house side of things so I coordinate on the main end.
I get the permits for the road closures.
I set up the activities food truck waste management facilities activities all of that and then
we sell the tickets for the spooky hayride which Douglas is in charge of.
So he handles the back end with the scares and the spooky stuff.
(06:24):
Well and before because I really want to hear about that but I have a feeling I know where
you're going so can you tell me like how many volunteers does it take at that front of the
house and sounds like a lot of coordination.
It is and that's one of the things that's hard sometimes is trying to make sure you've
got people for everything.
I do have actually right now for this year I set out a sign up genius for volunteers
(06:44):
for that night and it's going to be in the newsletter coming out with more information
because there are some things that definitely needs help with the night of or the day before
was set up.
We need a couple volunteers selling tickets throughout the night monitoring stations throughout
the night.
Also one of the big important ones for the hayride to go off is people loading and unloading
(07:06):
and taking the tickets at the hayride to make sure everyone gets on and off safely and smoothly.
But for the most part on the front end I kind of have been you know making scavenger hunts
at my home on the computer and making calls and setting up Halloween decorations.
I just spray painted something today to make like a spooky fireplace ember thing.
(07:27):
I can't wait.
Yeah I just like I said I like Halloween so it's fun to do but we we can always use
more people especially if they're keeping an eye out there for sign up because I was
saying somebody else is easy as you know taking a spot sitting by the fire pit for an hour
just manning it and chatting with people and they're not not big tasks but we do need we
(07:48):
do need people.
Yeah the first year I came someone recruited me to light the fire in the gazebos when it
was still kind of on that green area there.
Yeah and so I just started a fire.
That's it.
And Gwen how many different like little stations do you have at the front of the house?
So last year we had the spooky bus we're not able to do the spooky bus this year but we
(08:11):
had that we have the haunted hallway which is something I started doing where I decorate
one of the breezeways kind of like a mini haunted house.
Yeah that was cool last year.
Free so the kids can just explore and play.
We have a scavenger hunt where it's who stole the Halloween candy so they get to go around
station village and find the clues and come back and tell us based on you know I saw the
(08:31):
person they had fangs or they didn't have a hat and then they can get a piece of the
stolen candy as their reward and then Dalton's will be open and we have Cerna's grill coming
up this year for the food truck we have a pumpkin carving competition there's a 12 and
under and 13 and over two categories this year because it was really hard judging like
(08:54):
an adorable toddler pumpkin versus an amazingly carved 15 year old pumpkin.
Right.
So I thought we'd split it up for that and then we're gonna have the Millers are letting
us use the Gaga ball again and that's awesome yeah kids love the Gaga ball.
Yeah and then the fire pit Tom Brady is gonna be manning our fire pit and we were able to
get a donation of firewood this year this really nice kiln dried firewood that's in
(09:18):
the going to the links going to be in the metal mix as well in case anybody wants more
information on it but we have we have a few stations it's not it's not overwhelming but
there's hopefully enough activities to keep everybody busy for a while.
Yeah and then since you probably saw them the most are there mostly prayer crossing
residents that are the guests for this or has it turned into a community larger maybe
(09:43):
grades like event.
It's still really the community it's hard because we do have such a involved community
here that we already have like about 400 people go through the hayride and so it would be
hard to fit that many more people on so it's not that if you've got somebody at your house
(10:05):
they can't come with but we're we definitely aren't encouraging people to like invite their
whole class or anything.
Yeah there's no signage out there or anything.
No we're not putting it anywhere in public it's really just a neighborhood thing and
we understand you know parents bring their grandkids and things like that which is wonderful.
That question came because last year I you know it was there just seemed to so many people
there like this can't be all prayer crossing folks so it I guess it can be.
(10:29):
Yeah well and you do and then you get some you know where maybe teenagers bring their
best friend with them or something like that so it's not 100 percent but the majority are
prayer crossing.
Okay and and they're and for that like fun festive feel there's also a little spookier
(10:49):
angle to it and that's where you come in right Douglas.
Yeah and first of all a couple shout outs first of all Gwen and all the volunteers and
you didn't mention the the non-haunted ride but Gwen arranges a non-haunted ride at the
beginning and how many how many rides are there for that?
So it depends but usually we try to get in about four or five of the regular rides that
(11:13):
start during the beginning with the kids because I forgot there's also a costume parade so
we start the pumpkins do the things the costume parade and then we're having the non-scary
hay rides which still get to go through the prairie you still get to see cool decorations
it's just not so much of the creepy clowns chasing you down.
(11:33):
Little PG-13 angle right?
Yeah but it's G rated.
It's really fun like I went on that one I still like going on that one I've gone on
that one for years even last year even though my kids wanted to go on the scary one we
still went on the regular one too.
Yeah I mean we have two littles that while one tries to be really brave and says she
loves spooky things you know the G rated ride is more her speed you know yeah but I also
(11:56):
have a 12 year old that's really enjoyed your angle to it.
Tell me how yeah so how it works.
First of all it's been a lot of fun I want to a couple shout outs first of all to the
condo whoever I think it's whoever is the condo owner because they let us use that area.
(12:16):
Patrick.
Thank you and then Liberty Prairie for letting us use those two areas right where the Gaga
ball pit is and everything else so so thanks again.
Our homeowners board for letting us have this event so just a couple of shouts for that
so first of all.
Condo board as well.
And the condo board thank you.
So at the beginning we kind of like went back and forth we we try to figure out a date I
(12:40):
contact scares and try to get new people on board because we need more scare stations
we have about seven now we've had up to 12 in the past so that's been a lot of fun.
But just getting you know like you know the drivers for the route because they have to
you know sit there and drive for five hours right.
We have to get insurance for the for the for the wagon that we now own and Liberty Prairie
(13:04):
actually lets us use you know park the wagon at their at the farm which is kind of cool.
You know I think when kind of mention it but she she does like save the date in the metal
mix and writes an article and yeah so that's a lot of work too that you do.
I mean you're both here.
So I think you've got a few mentioned or not but we're getting space heaters donated this
(13:28):
year as well.
So just arranging that and you know dropped off and generosity of the whole neighborhood.
We go through you know I go through the scare stations and like try to figure out a stop
time so there's like a script for the wagon so they can stop 30 seconds at this one.
10 seconds at this one.
So yeah.
Yeah.
(13:49):
So we really have to keep it kind of on a time schedule because for for loading people
on and doing tickets you have to do a lot of mental math.
You know if we're getting about 20 to 25 people off the hayrides taking 20 minutes but if
some of them are taking 25 minutes then we're bumping and we actually can lose like a whole
hayride amount if we're not kind of keeping it.
(14:09):
So we're trying to do our best on the front and the back end to help it run smoothly and
on more of a routine schedule and you don't want to sell tickets that you can't accommodate.
We stopped selling tickets at like 720 last year and had full hayrides all the way up
until just after 10.
That just leads me to a question.
(14:29):
All right.
When are what are the hours for for it.
But I have always shown up for the pumpkin carving contest it early because we have littles
but generally what are the hours of the breakfast.
Yeah so the younger kid activities and the pumpkin carving competition kick off about
4 p.m.
So you can if you're doing a pumpkin you can drop it off earlier in the day or on Friday
(14:51):
I'll be over there setting up on Friday as well and that's going to go kind of around
the fountain area and at that point the haunted hallway will be set up.
The kids can start doing the scavenger hunt.
Dalton's will be open.
The food truck is not going to start till closer to 5 5 30 around that time is when we do the
costume parade around the circle.
(15:13):
The non scary hayrides start around 4 30 and then those will go right up until it's time
to start the scary hayrides around 6.
So we're going to start.
I want like to make sure everybody we're going to start selling the scary hayride tickets
at 5 45.
So at 5 45 because I know some people want to like come and buy tickets and then go and
come back and start selling them at 5 45 so that everybody has the same opportunity to
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line up and get their tickets and and do it that way and then the hayrides go.
We try to be done around 10.
Right because we have to like so yeah the scares I mean it's all in their own dime.
First of all thank you for all the scares and Gwen spent probably spends a lot of money
herself just with all the decorations but yeah it's it's it's it's a long you know day
(16:03):
for for the scares as well because they have to set up their sets and then take them down
before the end of the night.
Yeah and I interrupted you.
You were saying that you have a script for the driver and then and yeah each scare station
has their kind of own script and it could be as complicated or as simple as you know
sometimes we have just stationary stations which is kind of fun and we have other people
(16:24):
that are that are just we call them jump scaring right where they just kind of jump out and
scare people right.
So it's a it's it's really is a blast and I want to I'm sorry on the on the truck too
we are also have music and I want to thank Chris Mallon for over the years kind of hooking
up that sound soundtrack and having a track.
So so it's a big community event and every lots of people participating over the years.
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I also want to mention that there's there's like little things that that like the boxes
that go over the streetlights right.
So it has to like you know I throw the boxes in my my my house which is not a big deal
but someone has to put those on and then take them off and and so it's nice and dark.
Yeah unfortunately this year it's going to almost be a full moon believe it or not.
It'll be a bright night.
(17:10):
It'll be a bright night.
So so do you still do a scare station?
Yeah I do scare station yeah I have one.
His wife also has one of her own.
Oh really?
Yeah.
So you guys are on two.
What kind of work does it go just from yours when like to do a scare station?
I know they can be as harder as easy as you want.
Well I have to say I mean it's been I've had really elaborate ones.
(17:34):
I can't I don't want to give away what I'm doing this year but I'm gonna go and like
build a really big box when I get back to my house.
But it's it's it's I always think about this the fright fest it's about the journey.
It's about you know about getting there and we do a soundtrack and I'm going over Malins
tonight and we're gonna do a sound and voiceover some stuff and so but you know you're painting
(17:57):
and sawing and like and buying costumes and.
It's lots of different levels because you've got sometimes where the group will do almost
like a little mini scripted show where they're in specific costumes and sometimes they change.
I remember one year the tree house all the women dressed up like creepy dolls.
It was an all women one and they all dressed up.
(18:18):
That's my wife.
That was his wife.
They all dressed up like creepy dolls and you have a large group of guys that do usually
the creepy clowns and for them they change it up a little but they've got kind of their
standard these are outfits these are how we do so once you've invested in it it's not
an every year super extensive build and we've even talked if there's people that are interested
(18:41):
in having one or having a station or doing something but they're not in the position
to build something elaborate that there's always people who can help on that end who
maybe aren't able to do the actual scaring then.
So it's something you can even partner with other people or have a team where you're like
these us ten people five of us are going to be roaming at all times coming out of the
prairie at people and then we'll take turns so you can go ride the hayride with your kids
(19:05):
go back out that kind of thing.
No you hit it right in the head.
So it's really up to the individual kind of group of how elaborate or how simple they
want to make it.
And I'm going to have a confession I've not been on the scary ride.
I had tickets last year but it was so kind of rainy that we got pretty chilly.
Yeah we just kind of had a bad a bail because the little ones were getting wet.
(19:29):
But where where do you do this like where is it like that I don't know.
So it starts off at.
We start at station village condos and then for the scary hayride it heads up to off Blazing
Star and Harris up to Pedro and so they actually turn and go down the trail along Pedro and
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that's the length of it where all the scares are kind of positioned across that center
prairie.
And what an area.
OK so it actually goes off road.
OK that's what I never.
So that's another thing is Douglas and Joe and they go out and they make sure that there's
no branches that are going to poke anybody in the eye on the hayride or things like that
(20:13):
because you don't want anybody getting whacked in the dark.
Yeah absolutely.
And then and then I guess Douglas you have to figure out which station goes which first
second third or.
Yeah I mean I have a map that I've used over the years like the Google Maps which is great
right.
And I said station one is X and station two is Y and at station one you have to wait 30
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seconds and we have a little pole that we put in so they know where the truck knows
where to stop etc.
Oh yeah.
And it's hard as the driver in the dark you're trying to make sure everybody can see and
right because they don't have the headlights on.
Yeah.
And again thank you for being on Hedge Row as well.
A lot of people give us power so we can run our electricity which is really kind of folks
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and.
Yeah we know it can be disruptive for the people who live on the route and so we appreciate
that people are usually really kind about being understanding that it's one night and
we try to be done kind of when the noise ordinance is over and get everything cleaned up.
And not always we can't get everything that night but by the next day it's pretty everything's
(21:18):
pretty much cleaned up and gone both at the condos and at the scare stations.
And if I have to say if I said it before I'll say it again I think when has the harder job
honestly the front end you know the scares we've been doing it for years.
We want more people obviously but it created all that front end stuff is a little bit.
Yeah it's hard.
(21:39):
And your customer service too right.
Yeah so if somebody is unhappy and wants their money back then that's the person that has
to you know coordinates and tries to talk to them and figure out what was going on or
make sure everything goes smoothly and everyone's not you know breaking things or doing things
that are unsafe in the area.
And one thing too that I've been trying to kind of put the word out about is that I'm
(22:05):
happy to have anybody who wants to contribute something of their own as well.
I think Douglas' son is actually going to set up for the Boy Scouts their troop is going
to set up with their their sell the evergreens.
Yeah.
Christmas.
So they're going to set up like a pre sale booth where you can sign up to do that.
In the past we've had people who've done like tarot card readings or way back when they
(22:26):
would have magicians or balloon animal people and kind of vendors.
Yeah and I would just if there's a neighbor or somebody in the neighborhood who's like
I want to spend an hour doing like crafts or I have this fun game that I'd love to set
up and play and you can kind of make your own time if you want to do it and be there.
More than happy to have more activities and more people.
(22:48):
So it doesn't have to be something I planned.
You know it can be something else that you can come up with even like older kids if you've
got teenagers or something that want to set up like a little station of some sort or if
they make bracelets and do sell them.
Are you doing a story or storytelling station this year.
Has any volunteer for that yet.
We have not had anyone here for a story so story station but that is something that yeah
(23:12):
if somebody wanted to be more than happy.
Great ideas.
Yeah like bingo or just a little carnival game or just yeah I can see that.
Yeah so if there's anybody who has I know we had we had in the past we've had occasionally
people come set up little informational tables with little activities and we're more than
happy to have people contribute that.
(23:33):
I guess adult is participating sometimes from the others if they're around the other stores
will pitch in.
So like at the holiday lights Taryn at the here's where it's at salon had like a cookie
walk in her salon.
So we try to get the businesses involved as well.
It's another reason I wanted to have it move it back to the condos.
I know some people were a little confused that when it moved last year because I took
(23:55):
it over kind of last minute.
Yeah.
And I just was remembering what it used to be when it was at the condos when my kids
were little and they'd have pizza and there were little clementines with jack-o-lanterns
and they were coloring sheets and you know there was a guy I don't know who it was one
of our neighbors was dressed as in a Hagrid costume and he had like a full dog had two
(24:16):
extra heads like the dog.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
Like thing and it was it was so fun and I have really great memories and not to mention
being there you have better lighting you've got more coverage if the weather's not great
you've got access to electricity and so we can do things like the haunted hallway and
it just I think makes it a little safer and allows for a little more activities.
(24:39):
Oh yeah.
Yeah that park near the Kizibo got really dark.
Yeah.
It did.
It does get really dark.
We have very little street lamps over there.
Yeah.
I remember that from the first year I went.
Yeah just it seemed like a light switch went off at one point just it's dark.
It does it gets very dark.
Where's your kid?
Yeah.
And Douglas do you do a dress rehearsal?
(24:59):
Like if I did a station I'd want to practice I think.
Well the first switch we try to it's hard to kind of get it together because of lighting
and sound and everything.
The first couple rides are kind of like a trial kind of thing right and sometimes you
don't get the timing right off and but we just we just you know as a scare as I can
(25:20):
say I can speak I can speak for everybody we just have a lot of fun.
We have fun with the community we have fun looking at each other's stations.
There's an after party afterwards for the stairs scares that we usually go over to the
Zip's house and have a couple adult cocktails.
That's cool.
Afterwards.
Yeah.
But it's a good it's a good you know we were always goofing around on the walkie talkies.
(25:41):
Yeah and then we usually we usually order some pizza and send it down for the scares
at the start.
They're out there in the cold in the dark so that they've got some dinner while they're
out there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't want to overstate the obvious but I want to hear from you guys how this builds
community here in Prairie Crossing.
Like what's your take on that.
(26:01):
I think it's such a great activity because it is such a large number of people from the
community that come out and it's all ages because a lot of our events throughout the
neighborhood you get kind of some groups of the neighborhood.
You know the Easter egg hunt is more the younger kids and you got different kind of Fourth
(26:22):
of July.
There's a lot of the families.
There's maybe not so many of the teenagers that kind of thing.
Whereas this event I think it kind of touches base on a wider group because you get people
who come who are like new couples just husband and wife that moved to the neighborhood and
they want to come see what it's about.
You get the people with the family of five kids that all come and ride the hayride and
(26:43):
do pumpkins and I think it's really fun and the way it's based out the activities it allows
for a range so that the families who do have younger kids can come and have activities
and things to do to keep them you know busy and entertained.
But then there's also things that go on later where if you get a babysitter you can go drop
your kids at home come back do some scary rides and you know relax a little bit by the
(27:08):
fire pit and like you said yeah have bring bring a six pack or something and hang out
for a while and it's still really fun.
Yeah.
So you know it just shows how how dull I can be sometimes.
I hadn't thought about that with the babysitter.
Yeah we've had for the scare side we've had kids you know if their parent is there we've
(27:29):
had scares you know 12 years old all the way up to almost 80 honestly.
So everybody's like running around having fun putting makeup on and it's really a volunteer
event like one said and it's just I think it's one of the pillars of Prairie Crossing that
we bring everybody try to bring everybody together.
Yeah.
(27:49):
Try to have a little something for everybody.
Right and I'd agree with that.
I mean I that's the way I have felt about it.
It's one of our I don't know that we've missed one.
Same thing with Father's Day you know pig roast.
We haven't missed one.
I plan Father's Day weekend around it and so they this year what are you going to do
on a break on the beach.
That's what we're doing.
(28:09):
That's all I want to do.
Yeah.
And it's kind of that way of Halloween.
I know the kids are talking about it and just going to this and and doing I hope the weather
is a little drier this year.
That's all the fingers and toes crossed.
I would love for it to be a really nice weather for the event.
Even chilly is up just if just dry.
I like dry dry and I'd like to again if any new parents are intimidated because of the
(28:34):
sets like Gwen said earlier you can do something very simple and we'd love to get more scare
stations out there.
So okay.
Last last hurrah for the scare stations.
Right.
Is there a drop dead deadline is when you want that's a pun.
You can contact me the day before and I'll accommodate.
Okay.
I mean I'm kind of that way too with ours that if you are bringing your stuff and I
(28:58):
don't have to set it up for you then I'm happy if you want to show up and just be like hey
where can I put my stuff like more than happy to have you pop in and help.
And I know like some of my kids friends want to help a little bit with the haunted hallway
when they're around there and kind of wear costumes and maybe not like full scares but
like scare scare juniors start them early right.
(29:20):
So is there anything that I haven't asked you about that that you want to talk about
with fright fest because again I'm I don't have all the questions.
I think for me one of the things is just I know sometimes it's hard with events because
people get used to something one way if things change like we've said it's changed locations
(29:41):
many times.
I think you were saying earlier that it was at the farm once it's been at the fire pit
gazebo it's been at the condos back to the condos like all over the place.
It's be understanding that also we're all everybody helping our volunteers you know
everybody out doing the scaring everybody who's setting up and doing everything.
We're all just doing it on our free time as volunteers and that I know sometimes with
(30:05):
fright fest I was hearing questions about like because there's donations for the tickets
for the rides.
We do we do do that but that money goes to cover you know permits for the event.
It goes to cover if there's down payment for the food truck to come.
It goes to cover if we need more extension cords or lighting for the event or other supplies
(30:26):
if we need straw for the wagon.
We needed to replace some boards in the wagon last year so it goes to that.
And it funds the other and it funds the other events throughout the year.
It funds the 4th of July.
It funds Easter Easter Easter Easter the cooperation of the bands that goes to play for the sound
and audio guy.
So it's not just for this.
(30:47):
It kind of covers those and I have if anybody wants more information they can always ask
me I set up a separate email address and PayPal account that's purely fright fest.
Everything gets smart.
Everything gets logged from and it's completely separate from everything of mine.
So at any point like if I can't do anymore I can easily pass it and it's all right there
(31:08):
for somebody and all of the history is right there if anybody because I know sometimes
people have questions about that and I'm all about transparency so they're more than welcome
to ask me questions if they have them.
Do you want to share that email address.
It's PC fright fest at Gmail dot com.
Okay awesome and Douglas do you want to give your email address in case people want to
join or yeah Douglas nergy at iCloud dot com.
(31:31):
Okay and nergy is spelled N E R G E.
Awesome.
Thank you.
Thank you for hosting this and getting the word out and it's all about volunteers.
Yeah you're welcome.
I'm feeling my way with this.
You know I want to highlight our neighbors and the work going on that's going on behind
(31:52):
the scenes and build community.
But yeah I'm so kind of feeling it out.
So thank you.
Thank you both for being here.
Yeah thanks for having us.
Thanks for having us.
Well a big thank you again to Gwen and to Douglas for being on the podcast and for
you for listening to this episode.
Fright Fest is Saturday October 19th from 4 to 10 at the station square condos.
(32:13):
All the details are in the October medal mix that gets mailed to all Prairie Cross from
residents.
If you have any suggestions for future episodes or a neighbor who you feel like their story
just needs to be shared reach me at AroundTheLakePC at Gmail dot com.
Thanks for listening again and we will see you in a couple weeks.
Hey neighbors, it's Dan Bader and welcome to another episode of Around the Lake podcast.
(00:17):
I am walking around the lake today, it's September 29th, Sunday, with my newest walking companion.
Her name is Fletcher.
She's a rescue that we picked up at the Lake County Fairgrounds at a big adoption event
this weekend.
She is the sweetest dog and cuddly and a little bit the opposite of Watson, so she's a really
(00:43):
good fit for our family.
We're walking now just to practice some leash skills alone.
We've had a lot of walking this weekend, just getting Watson and her acclimated to each
other and her used to us and realize that we're her family now.
She is a husky mix, which is probably one of the reasons we adopted her because the
(01:07):
dog that we lost when we first moved here was also a husky mix and we loved her and
she was with us for 16 years and we still miss her, so Fletcher here is a little throwback
to her.
It's just about the golden hour, so I'm going counter-clockwise to keep the sun at my back
for most of the walk, at least that's the hope.
(01:30):
Gosh, the prairie has changed so much in just two weeks.
Moving towards those browns of late summer, early fall, and the purple flowers, I think
they're asters, but I'm probably wrong, are just gorgeous against the brown.
And the lake is so blue and the sky, you know, the cloudiness has kind of moved out and it's
(01:52):
puffy little clouds.
It's just amazing.
Today's episode we're talking to Gwen, Riccio, and Douglas Nurgie about Fright Fest, which
is coming up later this month, or later in October I should say.
Still got another day of September here.
And just about all the work that goes into it and all the volunteers and a little bit
(02:15):
about what it was like when they started living here and just what they bring to it and what
everybody brings to it.
So I hope you enjoy it.
Fletcher and I are going to keep walking here and doing some leash work, try to get her
a little better behaved and a little more accustomed to being on the leash and also
(02:36):
get her know prairie crossing a little bit.
Alright, well here is Gwen and Douglas.
Fletcher, stop, stop.
Good girl, good girl.
Okay, let's go.
Joining us today on the Around the Lake podcast is Gwen Riccio and Douglas Nurgie.
(02:59):
Thank you guys for being here.
Thanks for having us.
Thanks for having us.
So first let's start with introductions.
We don't know each other that well, any of us.
Gwen, let's start with you, tell us when did you move here, tell us about your family and
where you live.
Yeah, sure thing.
So my husband and I moved here back in 2006.
(03:20):
So we've been here about 18 years now and we live over on Blazing Star Road near the
other Gazebo fire pit.
When we first moved in we actually bought a condo.
We lived in the condo until we had our son and then when we were pregnant with our daughter
we moved into a house nearby.
And so that's, I've got a 13 year old son and an 11 year old daughter now.
(03:44):
And actually I'm right around the corner from this guy.
Okay, Douglas, tell us about you.
I'm Douglas Nurgie.
We moved in here in 2003 so it's been about 21 years.
I have almost a 21 year old girl and an 18 year old boy and we love prairie crossing.
Okay, well so the subject of today's episode is Fright Fest.
(04:10):
Just before we hit record you guys told me you didn't know exactly when it started but
tell me your first experience of Fright Fest and where it was and what it was like.
You want to start because you've been here a few years longer than me?
Not too much but I think I started in 2006 or 2005 and I was just a scarer at having
(04:31):
a scare stations.
It's just been a lot of fun.
It's kind of like, I don't know, theater.
So it's been a lot of fun and so that's when I started way back then.
Okay, how about you, Glenn?
So I started attending Fright Fest probably right after my son was born.
(04:51):
So that would have been 2011 would have been the first one because I have a picture of
him like in his little wrap on the hayride.
It was extra cold.
I had to put like my jacket over it that year and that was when we were still living in
the condos.
So it was really great because it was right down at that point it was Liz and Erin who
were in charge of it and so at that point we could just walk downstairs and get to meet
(05:14):
people in the neighborhood because there was a lot of especially the start separation between
the condos and the homeowners.
So getting to know more people getting to be a part of the community events and I love
Halloween so it's an event that I think there's only been maybe one of them we haven't been
able to make it to.
That's so cool.
Yeah.
So I guess I just learned and so I'll share I guess that there are two components of Fright
(05:39):
Fest.
There's a I guess front of house and then maybe a back of house or a party and a haunted
day ride.
How do you guys characterize and how Gwen's in charge?
Well tell us Gwen what's your part?
So I just took over last year from my neighbor Victoria and I run as you call the front of
(06:00):
house side of things so I coordinate on the main end.
I get the permits for the road closures.
I set up the activities food truck waste management facilities activities all of that and then
we sell the tickets for the spooky hayride which Douglas is in charge of.
So he handles the back end with the scares and the spooky stuff.
(06:24):
Well and before because I really want to hear about that but I have a feeling I know where
you're going so can you tell me like how many volunteers does it take at that front of the
house and sounds like a lot of coordination.
It is and that's one of the things that's hard sometimes is trying to make sure you've
got people for everything.
I do have actually right now for this year I set out a sign up genius for volunteers
(06:44):
for that night and it's going to be in the newsletter coming out with more information
because there are some things that definitely needs help with the night of or the day before
was set up.
We need a couple volunteers selling tickets throughout the night monitoring stations throughout
the night.
Also one of the big important ones for the hayride to go off is people loading and unloading
(07:06):
and taking the tickets at the hayride to make sure everyone gets on and off safely and smoothly.
But for the most part on the front end I kind of have been you know making scavenger hunts
at my home on the computer and making calls and setting up Halloween decorations.
I just spray painted something today to make like a spooky fireplace ember thing.
(07:27):
I can't wait.
Yeah I just like I said I like Halloween so it's fun to do but we we can always use
more people especially if they're keeping an eye out there for sign up because I was
saying somebody else is easy as you know taking a spot sitting by the fire pit for an hour
just manning it and chatting with people and they're not not big tasks but we do need we
(07:48):
do need people.
Yeah the first year I came someone recruited me to light the fire in the gazebos when it
was still kind of on that green area there.
Yeah and so I just started a fire.
That's it.
And Gwen how many different like little stations do you have at the front of the house?
So last year we had the spooky bus we're not able to do the spooky bus this year but we
(08:11):
had that we have the haunted hallway which is something I started doing where I decorate
one of the breezeways kind of like a mini haunted house.
Yeah that was cool last year.
Free so the kids can just explore and play.
We have a scavenger hunt where it's who stole the Halloween candy so they get to go around
station village and find the clues and come back and tell us based on you know I saw the
(08:31):
person they had fangs or they didn't have a hat and then they can get a piece of the
stolen candy as their reward and then Dalton's will be open and we have Cerna's grill coming
up this year for the food truck we have a pumpkin carving competition there's a 12 and
under and 13 and over two categories this year because it was really hard judging like
(08:54):
an adorable toddler pumpkin versus an amazingly carved 15 year old pumpkin.
Right.
So I thought we'd split it up for that and then we're gonna have the Millers are letting
us use the Gaga ball again and that's awesome yeah kids love the Gaga ball.
Yeah and then the fire pit Tom Brady is gonna be manning our fire pit and we were able to
get a donation of firewood this year this really nice kiln dried firewood that's in
(09:18):
the going to the links going to be in the metal mix as well in case anybody wants more
information on it but we have we have a few stations it's not it's not overwhelming but
there's hopefully enough activities to keep everybody busy for a while.
Yeah and then since you probably saw them the most are there mostly prayer crossing
residents that are the guests for this or has it turned into a community larger maybe
(09:43):
grades like event.
It's still really the community it's hard because we do have such a involved community
here that we already have like about 400 people go through the hayride and so it would be
hard to fit that many more people on so it's not that if you've got somebody at your house
(10:05):
they can't come with but we're we definitely aren't encouraging people to like invite their
whole class or anything.
Yeah there's no signage out there or anything.
No we're not putting it anywhere in public it's really just a neighborhood thing and
we understand you know parents bring their grandkids and things like that which is wonderful.
That question came because last year I you know it was there just seemed to so many people
there like this can't be all prayer crossing folks so it I guess it can be.
(10:29):
Yeah well and you do and then you get some you know where maybe teenagers bring their
best friend with them or something like that so it's not 100 percent but the majority are
prayer crossing.
Okay and and they're and for that like fun festive feel there's also a little spookier
(10:49):
angle to it and that's where you come in right Douglas.
Yeah and first of all a couple shout outs first of all Gwen and all the volunteers and
you didn't mention the the non-haunted ride but Gwen arranges a non-haunted ride at the
beginning and how many how many rides are there for that?
So it depends but usually we try to get in about four or five of the regular rides that
(11:13):
start during the beginning with the kids because I forgot there's also a costume parade so
we start the pumpkins do the things the costume parade and then we're having the non-scary
hay rides which still get to go through the prairie you still get to see cool decorations
it's just not so much of the creepy clowns chasing you down.
(11:33):
Little PG-13 angle right?
Yeah but it's G rated.
It's really fun like I went on that one I still like going on that one I've gone on
that one for years even last year even though my kids wanted to go on the scary one we
still went on the regular one too.
Yeah I mean we have two littles that while one tries to be really brave and says she
loves spooky things you know the G rated ride is more her speed you know yeah but I also
(11:56):
have a 12 year old that's really enjoyed your angle to it.
Tell me how yeah so how it works.
First of all it's been a lot of fun I want to a couple shout outs first of all to the
condo whoever I think it's whoever is the condo owner because they let us use that area.
(12:16):
Patrick.
Thank you and then Liberty Prairie for letting us use those two areas right where the Gaga
ball pit is and everything else so so thanks again.
Our homeowners board for letting us have this event so just a couple of shouts for that
so first of all.
Condo board as well.
And the condo board thank you.
So at the beginning we kind of like went back and forth we we try to figure out a date I
(12:40):
contact scares and try to get new people on board because we need more scare stations
we have about seven now we've had up to 12 in the past so that's been a lot of fun.
But just getting you know like you know the drivers for the route because they have to
you know sit there and drive for five hours right.
We have to get insurance for the for the for the wagon that we now own and Liberty Prairie
(13:04):
actually lets us use you know park the wagon at their at the farm which is kind of cool.
You know I think when kind of mention it but she she does like save the date in the metal
mix and writes an article and yeah so that's a lot of work too that you do.
I mean you're both here.
So I think you've got a few mentioned or not but we're getting space heaters donated this
(13:28):
year as well.
So just arranging that and you know dropped off and generosity of the whole neighborhood.
We go through you know I go through the scare stations and like try to figure out a stop
time so there's like a script for the wagon so they can stop 30 seconds at this one.
10 seconds at this one.
So yeah.
Yeah.
(13:49):
So we really have to keep it kind of on a time schedule because for for loading people
on and doing tickets you have to do a lot of mental math.
You know if we're getting about 20 to 25 people off the hayrides taking 20 minutes but if
some of them are taking 25 minutes then we're bumping and we actually can lose like a whole
hayride amount if we're not kind of keeping it.
(14:09):
So we're trying to do our best on the front and the back end to help it run smoothly and
on more of a routine schedule and you don't want to sell tickets that you can't accommodate.
We stopped selling tickets at like 720 last year and had full hayrides all the way up
until just after 10.
That just leads me to a question.
(14:29):
All right.
When are what are the hours for for it.
But I have always shown up for the pumpkin carving contest it early because we have littles
but generally what are the hours of the breakfast.
Yeah so the younger kid activities and the pumpkin carving competition kick off about
4 p.m.
So you can if you're doing a pumpkin you can drop it off earlier in the day or on Friday
(14:51):
I'll be over there setting up on Friday as well and that's going to go kind of around
the fountain area and at that point the haunted hallway will be set up.
The kids can start doing the scavenger hunt.
Dalton's will be open.
The food truck is not going to start till closer to 5 5 30 around that time is when we do the
costume parade around the circle.
(15:13):
The non scary hayrides start around 4 30 and then those will go right up until it's time
to start the scary hayrides around 6.
So we're going to start.
I want like to make sure everybody we're going to start selling the scary hayride tickets
at 5 45.
So at 5 45 because I know some people want to like come and buy tickets and then go and
come back and start selling them at 5 45 so that everybody has the same opportunity to
(15:38):
line up and get their tickets and and do it that way and then the hayrides go.
We try to be done around 10.
Right because we have to like so yeah the scares I mean it's all in their own dime.
First of all thank you for all the scares and Gwen spent probably spends a lot of money
herself just with all the decorations but yeah it's it's it's it's a long you know day
(16:03):
for for the scares as well because they have to set up their sets and then take them down
before the end of the night.
Yeah and I interrupted you.
You were saying that you have a script for the driver and then and yeah each scare station
has their kind of own script and it could be as complicated or as simple as you know
sometimes we have just stationary stations which is kind of fun and we have other people
(16:24):
that are that are just we call them jump scaring right where they just kind of jump out and
scare people right.
So it's a it's it's really is a blast and I want to I'm sorry on the on the truck too
we are also have music and I want to thank Chris Mallon for over the years kind of hooking
up that sound soundtrack and having a track.
So so it's a big community event and every lots of people participating over the years.
(16:49):
I also want to mention that there's there's like little things that that like the boxes
that go over the streetlights right.
So it has to like you know I throw the boxes in my my my house which is not a big deal
but someone has to put those on and then take them off and and so it's nice and dark.
Yeah unfortunately this year it's going to almost be a full moon believe it or not.
It'll be a bright night.
(17:10):
It'll be a bright night.
So so do you still do a scare station?
Yeah I do scare station yeah I have one.
His wife also has one of her own.
Oh really?
Yeah.
So you guys are on two.
What kind of work does it go just from yours when like to do a scare station?
I know they can be as harder as easy as you want.
Well I have to say I mean it's been I've had really elaborate ones.
(17:34):
I can't I don't want to give away what I'm doing this year but I'm gonna go and like
build a really big box when I get back to my house.
But it's it's it's I always think about this the fright fest it's about the journey.
It's about you know about getting there and we do a soundtrack and I'm going over Malins
tonight and we're gonna do a sound and voiceover some stuff and so but you know you're painting
(17:57):
and sawing and like and buying costumes and.
It's lots of different levels because you've got sometimes where the group will do almost
like a little mini scripted show where they're in specific costumes and sometimes they change.
I remember one year the tree house all the women dressed up like creepy dolls.
It was an all women one and they all dressed up.
(18:18):
That's my wife.
That was his wife.
They all dressed up like creepy dolls and you have a large group of guys that do usually
the creepy clowns and for them they change it up a little but they've got kind of their
standard these are outfits these are how we do so once you've invested in it it's not
an every year super extensive build and we've even talked if there's people that are interested
(18:41):
in having one or having a station or doing something but they're not in the position
to build something elaborate that there's always people who can help on that end who
maybe aren't able to do the actual scaring then.
So it's something you can even partner with other people or have a team where you're like
these us ten people five of us are going to be roaming at all times coming out of the
prairie at people and then we'll take turns so you can go ride the hayride with your kids
(19:05):
go back out that kind of thing.
No you hit it right in the head.
So it's really up to the individual kind of group of how elaborate or how simple they
want to make it.
And I'm going to have a confession I've not been on the scary ride.
I had tickets last year but it was so kind of rainy that we got pretty chilly.
Yeah we just kind of had a bad a bail because the little ones were getting wet.
(19:29):
But where where do you do this like where is it like that I don't know.
So it starts off at.
We start at station village condos and then for the scary hayride it heads up to off Blazing
Star and Harris up to Pedro and so they actually turn and go down the trail along Pedro and
(19:53):
that's the length of it where all the scares are kind of positioned across that center
prairie.
And what an area.
OK so it actually goes off road.
OK that's what I never.
So that's another thing is Douglas and Joe and they go out and they make sure that there's
no branches that are going to poke anybody in the eye on the hayride or things like that
(20:13):
because you don't want anybody getting whacked in the dark.
Yeah absolutely.
And then and then I guess Douglas you have to figure out which station goes which first
second third or.
Yeah I mean I have a map that I've used over the years like the Google Maps which is great
right.
And I said station one is X and station two is Y and at station one you have to wait 30
(20:35):
seconds and we have a little pole that we put in so they know where the truck knows
where to stop etc.
Oh yeah.
And it's hard as the driver in the dark you're trying to make sure everybody can see and
right because they don't have the headlights on.
Yeah.
And again thank you for being on Hedge Row as well.
A lot of people give us power so we can run our electricity which is really kind of folks
(20:57):
and.
Yeah we know it can be disruptive for the people who live on the route and so we appreciate
that people are usually really kind about being understanding that it's one night and
we try to be done kind of when the noise ordinance is over and get everything cleaned up.
And not always we can't get everything that night but by the next day it's pretty everything's
(21:18):
pretty much cleaned up and gone both at the condos and at the scare stations.
And if I have to say if I said it before I'll say it again I think when has the harder job
honestly the front end you know the scares we've been doing it for years.
We want more people obviously but it created all that front end stuff is a little bit.
Yeah it's hard.
(21:39):
And your customer service too right.
Yeah so if somebody is unhappy and wants their money back then that's the person that has
to you know coordinates and tries to talk to them and figure out what was going on or
make sure everything goes smoothly and everyone's not you know breaking things or doing things
that are unsafe in the area.
And one thing too that I've been trying to kind of put the word out about is that I'm
(22:05):
happy to have anybody who wants to contribute something of their own as well.
I think Douglas' son is actually going to set up for the Boy Scouts their troop is going
to set up with their their sell the evergreens.
Yeah.
Christmas.
So they're going to set up like a pre sale booth where you can sign up to do that.
In the past we've had people who've done like tarot card readings or way back when they
(22:26):
would have magicians or balloon animal people and kind of vendors.
Yeah and I would just if there's a neighbor or somebody in the neighborhood who's like
I want to spend an hour doing like crafts or I have this fun game that I'd love to set
up and play and you can kind of make your own time if you want to do it and be there.
More than happy to have more activities and more people.
(22:48):
So it doesn't have to be something I planned.
You know it can be something else that you can come up with even like older kids if you've
got teenagers or something that want to set up like a little station of some sort or if
they make bracelets and do sell them.
Are you doing a story or storytelling station this year.
Has any volunteer for that yet.
We have not had anyone here for a story so story station but that is something that yeah
(23:12):
if somebody wanted to be more than happy.
Great ideas.
Yeah like bingo or just a little carnival game or just yeah I can see that.
Yeah so if there's anybody who has I know we had we had in the past we've had occasionally
people come set up little informational tables with little activities and we're more than
happy to have people contribute that.
(23:33):
I guess adult is participating sometimes from the others if they're around the other stores
will pitch in.
So like at the holiday lights Taryn at the here's where it's at salon had like a cookie
walk in her salon.
So we try to get the businesses involved as well.
It's another reason I wanted to have it move it back to the condos.
I know some people were a little confused that when it moved last year because I took
(23:55):
it over kind of last minute.
Yeah.
And I just was remembering what it used to be when it was at the condos when my kids
were little and they'd have pizza and there were little clementines with jack-o-lanterns
and they were coloring sheets and you know there was a guy I don't know who it was one
of our neighbors was dressed as in a Hagrid costume and he had like a full dog had two
(24:16):
extra heads like the dog.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
Like thing and it was it was so fun and I have really great memories and not to mention
being there you have better lighting you've got more coverage if the weather's not great
you've got access to electricity and so we can do things like the haunted hallway and
it just I think makes it a little safer and allows for a little more activities.
(24:39):
Oh yeah.
Yeah that park near the Kizibo got really dark.
Yeah.
It did.
It does get really dark.
We have very little street lamps over there.
Yeah.
I remember that from the first year I went.
Yeah just it seemed like a light switch went off at one point just it's dark.
It does it gets very dark.
Where's your kid?
Yeah.
And Douglas do you do a dress rehearsal?
(24:59):
Like if I did a station I'd want to practice I think.
Well the first switch we try to it's hard to kind of get it together because of lighting
and sound and everything.
The first couple rides are kind of like a trial kind of thing right and sometimes you
don't get the timing right off and but we just we just you know as a scare as I can
(25:20):
say I can speak I can speak for everybody we just have a lot of fun.
We have fun with the community we have fun looking at each other's stations.
There's an after party afterwards for the stairs scares that we usually go over to the
Zip's house and have a couple adult cocktails.
That's cool.
Afterwards.
Yeah.
But it's a good it's a good you know we were always goofing around on the walkie talkies.
(25:41):
Yeah and then we usually we usually order some pizza and send it down for the scares
at the start.
They're out there in the cold in the dark so that they've got some dinner while they're
out there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't want to overstate the obvious but I want to hear from you guys how this builds
community here in Prairie Crossing.
Like what's your take on that.
(26:01):
I think it's such a great activity because it is such a large number of people from the
community that come out and it's all ages because a lot of our events throughout the
neighborhood you get kind of some groups of the neighborhood.
You know the Easter egg hunt is more the younger kids and you got different kind of Fourth
(26:22):
of July.
There's a lot of the families.
There's maybe not so many of the teenagers that kind of thing.
Whereas this event I think it kind of touches base on a wider group because you get people
who come who are like new couples just husband and wife that moved to the neighborhood and
they want to come see what it's about.
You get the people with the family of five kids that all come and ride the hayride and
(26:43):
do pumpkins and I think it's really fun and the way it's based out the activities it allows
for a range so that the families who do have younger kids can come and have activities
and things to do to keep them you know busy and entertained.
But then there's also things that go on later where if you get a babysitter you can go drop
your kids at home come back do some scary rides and you know relax a little bit by the
(27:08):
fire pit and like you said yeah have bring bring a six pack or something and hang out
for a while and it's still really fun.
Yeah.
So you know it just shows how how dull I can be sometimes.
I hadn't thought about that with the babysitter.
Yeah we've had for the scare side we've had kids you know if their parent is there we've
(27:29):
had scares you know 12 years old all the way up to almost 80 honestly.
So everybody's like running around having fun putting makeup on and it's really a volunteer
event like one said and it's just I think it's one of the pillars of Prairie Crossing that
we bring everybody try to bring everybody together.
Yeah.
(27:49):
Try to have a little something for everybody.
Right and I'd agree with that.
I mean I that's the way I have felt about it.
It's one of our I don't know that we've missed one.
Same thing with Father's Day you know pig roast.
We haven't missed one.
I plan Father's Day weekend around it and so they this year what are you going to do
on a break on the beach.
That's what we're doing.
(28:09):
That's all I want to do.
Yeah.
And it's kind of that way of Halloween.
I know the kids are talking about it and just going to this and and doing I hope the weather
is a little drier this year.
That's all the fingers and toes crossed.
I would love for it to be a really nice weather for the event.
Even chilly is up just if just dry.
I like dry dry and I'd like to again if any new parents are intimidated because of the
(28:34):
sets like Gwen said earlier you can do something very simple and we'd love to get more scare
stations out there.
So okay.
Last last hurrah for the scare stations.
Right.
Is there a drop dead deadline is when you want that's a pun.
You can contact me the day before and I'll accommodate.
Okay.
I mean I'm kind of that way too with ours that if you are bringing your stuff and I
(28:58):
don't have to set it up for you then I'm happy if you want to show up and just be like hey
where can I put my stuff like more than happy to have you pop in and help.
And I know like some of my kids friends want to help a little bit with the haunted hallway
when they're around there and kind of wear costumes and maybe not like full scares but
like scare scare juniors start them early right.
(29:20):
So is there anything that I haven't asked you about that that you want to talk about
with fright fest because again I'm I don't have all the questions.
I think for me one of the things is just I know sometimes it's hard with events because
people get used to something one way if things change like we've said it's changed locations
(29:41):
many times.
I think you were saying earlier that it was at the farm once it's been at the fire pit
gazebo it's been at the condos back to the condos like all over the place.
It's be understanding that also we're all everybody helping our volunteers you know
everybody out doing the scaring everybody who's setting up and doing everything.
We're all just doing it on our free time as volunteers and that I know sometimes with
(30:05):
fright fest I was hearing questions about like because there's donations for the tickets
for the rides.
We do we do do that but that money goes to cover you know permits for the event.
It goes to cover if there's down payment for the food truck to come.
It goes to cover if we need more extension cords or lighting for the event or other supplies
(30:26):
if we need straw for the wagon.
We needed to replace some boards in the wagon last year so it goes to that.
And it funds the other and it funds the other events throughout the year.
It funds the 4th of July.
It funds Easter Easter Easter Easter the cooperation of the bands that goes to play for the sound
and audio guy.
So it's not just for this.
(30:47):
It kind of covers those and I have if anybody wants more information they can always ask
me I set up a separate email address and PayPal account that's purely fright fest.
Everything gets smart.
Everything gets logged from and it's completely separate from everything of mine.
So at any point like if I can't do anymore I can easily pass it and it's all right there
(31:08):
for somebody and all of the history is right there if anybody because I know sometimes
people have questions about that and I'm all about transparency so they're more than welcome
to ask me questions if they have them.
Do you want to share that email address.
It's PC fright fest at Gmail dot com.
Okay awesome and Douglas do you want to give your email address in case people want to
join or yeah Douglas nergy at iCloud dot com.
(31:31):
Okay and nergy is spelled N E R G E.
Awesome.
Thank you.
Thank you for hosting this and getting the word out and it's all about volunteers.
Yeah you're welcome.
I'm feeling my way with this.
You know I want to highlight our neighbors and the work going on that's going on behind
(31:52):
the scenes and build community.
But yeah I'm so kind of feeling it out.
So thank you.
Thank you both for being here.
Yeah thanks for having us.
Thanks for having us.
Well a big thank you again to Gwen and to Douglas for being on the podcast and for
you for listening to this episode.
Fright Fest is Saturday October 19th from 4 to 10 at the station square condos.
(32:13):
All the details are in the October medal mix that gets mailed to all Prairie Cross from
residents.
If you have any suggestions for future episodes or a neighbor who you feel like their story
just needs to be shared reach me at AroundTheLakePC at Gmail dot com.
Thanks for listening again and we will see you in a couple weeks.
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