On October 29h from 11:00 am till 2:00 PM. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island again sponsored the annual Fall Festival “Halloween Party”.

The Kiwanis Club along with the help of other Island businesses and citizens put on one of the best annual Fall Festival “Halloween Party” ever. Over 250 Pine Island children up to age 11 attend this FREE event. Children older volunteer and helped run the games or worked the event.

The Kiwanis Club pride themselves on providing a safe place to receive candy and prizes as well as play games inside and outside with great supervision.

Many parents look forward to this event and are grateful to the Kiwanis Club and all the island partners who make it possible through donations and volunteering.

This year’s event had over 250 kids and family members who attended this annual Halloween Party. Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal Church donates the location and kitchen help provided by Mary and Dave Grueser who cooked the Haunted Hot Dogs.

Joan & Phil Rosenberg provided each kid with a Spooky Photo if you dared to enter the Spooky Photo Corner.

Tonya Player from the Pine Island Library provided the Spooky Story telling in the dark corner. Pine Island Community Church Youth Group popped up some colorful popcorn and yes Sandy and Bill were busy spinning a web of cotton candy.

The Bouncing Pumpkin mascot was retired this year and replaced with a bright purple bunch of dancing grapes.

Other attractions available to all who attend, Costume Parade led by Ila Valcarcel as a bunch of grapes. Games, Prizes, Bounce Houses, Mini All Star Basketball Game and so much more we can’t list it all was provided for the kids enjoyment.

This event has always been free to all Pine Island Elementary School Students and their younger brothers and sisters. All the kids receives a free Hot Dog, chips and drink lunch, Free popcorn, cotton candy, bag of candy and prizes and so much more… Hot Dog, chips and drink lunch was available to the adults for a small donation that will go towards next year’s party.

Co-sponsor of Booths for this years event were: VFW Women Aux. of Pine Island,
Joan & Phil Rosenberg, Pine Island Girl Scouts,

Pine Island Boy Scouts, Bobby Holloway Org., Creative Coast Pre-School, Beacon of HOPE, Pine Island Library, Honc Excavating, Inc. Pine Island Lions Club, Matlacha Hookers, Stonegate Bank, Pine Island Little League, Greater Pine Island Water Company, Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce and Spooky sounds by Nathaniel Burman and the great guys at the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Department who brought the trucks for the kids to climb on. They also brought each kid a coloring book and box of crayons.

Co-sponsors who donated funds to help with the expenses: Buzzy Philips from Raymond James Financial Services, Capital Bank in St. James City, Judy Knez a island resident, Steve Delaplane from Steve Delaplane Agency, Inc., Garth & Mary Moreau, Gregory Lambrecht from True Blue Pools, Pine Island American Legion, Patricia M. Whitaker a Island resident, Alice Burner, a Island resident, Rhoda Fleming and Donna Martin also island residents, Winn Dixie in St. James City and Eric from Lazy Flamingo donated the Spooky Hot Dogs, Oh they were so GOOD.

Co-sponsor who have donated prizes, coupons and candy: Riverside Dental in St. James City, Nick & Jane Mohar, Stormie Futch, Barbara Lewis, Ad&PrintCraft in Bokeelia, SunTrust Bank, Geo’s, St. James Hobby Club, Bank of America, Sandy Hook Restaurant, Paradise Gardens, Edward Jones in Matlacha, JP Brink Note Finder, PICC Youth Group, Cove Systems, Dollar General and Island Grill.

We invite all Pine Island Businesses and residents to become a co-sponsor of this long time FREE community service event. You can help by donating a little $, or some candy or your time. It all has value and will helping in the planning of this community service event for 2012.

If you work on Pine Island or own a business this is a great way to promote your business and services. It is as easy as sponsoring a booth. All you need to do is come up with an idea for a game (kids ages 1-12). Buy some candy or prizes for each child who plays (last year we had over 250) and of course have fun. If you sponsor a game you may bring and hang your business banner in your booth area.

This is a community service event that is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island and co-sponsored by residents and businesses on Pine Island and the surrounding areas that care about our youth. Act now and HELP it does make a difference.

The Kiwanis Club would like to thank all who attended and worked the event and all who donated and all who attended and had fun at the event.

We will see you all next year. Donations can still be made and will be applied to next year’s event

Make Checks out to:
Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island
P.O. Box 72
Pineland, Florida 33945-0072

Peggy Cozadd, Event Chairman
239-283-9170 ext 201

Pat Burman, Chairman’s Helper
239-283-0777
email: info@PineIslandKiwanis.com
www.PineIslandKiwanis.com