Kiwanis Fall Fest is well attended, scarecrow winners announced
Pirates, bumble bees, numerous princesses, ghouls, and goblins all invaded Chandler Park Saturday night for a special family event sponsored by the Onaway Kiwanis Club and the Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce.
Local residents from one to 70 took part, with the pavilion at the center of all the activity.
The park?s paved trail was decorated with 35 carved Jack-O-Lanterns, which had been handed out earlier in the week at the school.
According to Kiwanis Club treasurer Tom Sobeck, it was not easy counting all the kids, as they moved through the park, ruffling through the leaves and enjoying the playground equipment at the bottom of the hill, but organizers believe there were about 60 children who took part.
?We were fortunate the weather held up for us,? said Sobeck. The wind was calm and temperatures were in the upper 40s.
?Considering the fact that it was the first time the Kiwanis Club was involved, it was a very successful event and we are already making plans for next year,? said Sobeck. ?We had some wonderful donations from local businesses and we were able to give a prize to each participant.? Dairy Queen gave away ice cream cones, while Subway gave away certificates. Everyone enjoyed cider, cookies, and candy.
THE COSTUME winners were Wade Willey in first place with a horse costume; Macy Decker in second place with a bumblebee costume; and Mary Bandish in third place dressed as a pirate girl.
Three places were awarded in the pumpkin-carving contest. The parade through the park took place shortly after 6 p.m. ?The kids had a great time,? said Sobeck.
The Chamber of Commerce organized the event last year, and assisted this year.
The Onaway Kiwanis Club, into its third year, was pleased to conduct an event involving children of the community because it fits their motto of serving children of the world. The local Kiwanis Club has 18 members and meets every Wednesday at noon for lunch at the Onaway United Methodist church.
SATURDAY ALSO was the day for scarecrow judging. There were three categories. Winning in the category relating to the business was Aurora Gas Company with the pipeline construction crew at Aurora Gas Company. Having smoke emitting from the tractor stack was a nice touch.
Winning in the category for most creative was the LeCureux Masonry work crew on M-68. Th
WoodWinds won for most original. They used the bear statue in front of the business to simulate a bear attack. The bear had the arm of a scarecrow in his mouth. A nearby scarecrow, in terrible need of dental work and a perm, was serving a soft drink.
The drink was probably for the bear, who needed something to wash that arm down with.
There were many excellent scarecrows, any which could easily have taken first place.
An organizer of the chamber event said the scarecrow contest was bigger and better than ever.