Fillmore Central Band coordinates scary fundraiser

By Jade Sexton
jade@fillmorecountyjournal.com

Fri, Oct 12th, 2012

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A couple of years ago, Jay Masters of Harmony came up with a great idea for an event that would help the Fillmore Central Band raise money. He approached Lane Powell, the band director, with the idea of a haunted house.

“I told him that if he could get it figured out, we could do it,” said Powell.

This last spring Masters had it figured out, and the work began.

In the tradition of the Big Band Bash, a dinner and music fundraiser that has grown each year, now comes the Monster Bash. If all goes well, Powell and Masters are hoping to make this an annual event as well.

The haunted house will be at the Community Center in Harmony. The city of Harmony has donated the use of the gym for two and a half weeks.

Powell said they began raising funds for the fundraiser. Local businesses donated $100, and their names will be put on a t-shirt.

“There is over $7,000 that has been raised,” said Powell. “And that’s for the supplies to build it.”

According to Powell, the response from the community has been overwhelming. Several volunteers, parents, and high school students have spent many hours assembling the haunted house. Powell explained they are building the walls so they are interchangeable. The plan is to switch it up so you don’t see the same house every year.

“We want people to get the most bang for their buck,” said Powell.

Keeping the Haunted House affordable was important, too. You can tour the haunted house for five dollars a person. An unlimited pass is $20, and a family of five or more only has to pay $20. T-shirts are available for $15.

Building on the walls began in June. “Mark Scheevel donated the shed for us to use,” said Powell. “We got plywood 2x4s donated from Rochester, and Fountain Lumber donated wood.”

Volunteers worked in shifts. The morning crew would build from 8-12, and the afternoon crew would paint from 12-4.

Masters and Powell worked on the entrance to the house and the graveyard. The actual house, which will look like a real house on the outside, will be a big maze that will take 20 minutes to walk through.

“There is a lot going into it,” shared Powell. He added there will be some frightening things going on outside as well.

Not only have people donated time and money for this special event, but the fundraiser is getting a lot of free advertising as well. SMG Web Design donated a free website, and there will be radio spots on KFIL and two spots with KTTC.

Powell believes the idea for a haunted house is a great way to bring people to Harmony.

“It’s unique,” he said. “There aren’t many people that do this.”

Proceeds from the event will go to the Fillmore Central High School Band and choir events for upcoming performance trips, including the band’s trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida in the spring.

Powell was overwhelmed by the willingness of the community to help out with the fundraiser, and the great help from Masters. “He’s very community driven,” said Powell. “He wants to see something good in town. Harmony has a lot of people like that. It’s very special.”

The first night of the event is made to be less scary for younger kids, and will be October 19 from 4-7pm. The Monster Bash will also be October 20 from 7-11 p.m., Oct. 21-25 from 7-10 p.m., Oct. 26-27 from 7-11 p.m., and Oct. 28-31 from 7-10 p.m. More information can be found on the website: www.fcfundraising.com.

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