Morgan Park - Smithville Community Club

The Shack is Back in 2005

DNT Article Posted on Thu, Oct. 14, 2004

Local News


Favorite Halloween Haunt to Return in 2005




MORGAN PARK: Neighborhood's annual Haunted Shack fund-raiser will be back next year after organizers clear up misunderstanding with the city.

BY CHRIS HAMILTON

NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER


The Haunted Shack is back, at least for 2005 and years to come.
After what was described as a "big misunderstanding" between organizers of the annual Morgan Park Halloween fund-raiser and city officials, the event will return next year, said Pat Stojevich of Gary-New Duluth.
"It went pretty much very, very well," said Stojevich after he and other event volunteers met with city Parks and Recreation Department officials Wednesday afternoon.
"We worked out a lot of details on the understanding that there will be no Haunted Shack this year -- it's just too late for that now -- but in 2005, it will be back," he said.
The haunted house, which for the past nine years was held in the Goodfellowship Community Recreation Center in Morgan Park, typically raises about $3,200 for the Special Olympics and gathers about 1,500 pounds in donated canned goods for a Churches United in Ministry food shelf.
The problem came when the community club officers, earlier this year, decided to hand over rental issues to city staff, said Parks and Recreation director Carl Seehus. City employees, in turn, were under the assumption that it was a for-profit enterprise. No one had told city officials otherwise, Seehus said.
If the community club had been for-profit, it would have been subject to expensive insurance requirements and rental fees, said Stojevich, who assumed responsibility for much of the miscommunication. The city's requirements are part of a new policy to protect Duluth from lawsuits.
"I guess I learned that you don't take things for granted," said Stojevich, who added that getting the proper contact people was another factor.
It takes volunteer workers about a week of often long days to set up the maze and displays. The solution regrettably didn't come in time for this year, Stojevich said.
He also said that Park State Bank in Morgan Park has stepped up to pay a $750 user fee to the community club. The money will support local kids programs, he said.
And since the event is not-for-profit, in the future, the city will assume insurance responsibility for customers, and volunteers have agreed to cover their own personal liability issues, Stojevich said.
Stojevich credited Seehus and Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson with resolving the issue.
Roberta Wachlin, Duluth's head coach for Special Olympics, called it proof that government can listen and respond to the people, and CHUM food shelf coordinator Meg Kearns said it is wonderful news.
"I think it's an especially nice opportunity for people in West Duluth to support our West Duluth food shelf, a way for neighbors to help neighbors in need," Kearns said.
Both Kearns and Wachlin said they will find ways to skimp this year without the Haunted Shack's generous and much-appreciated support.
In the end, Stojevich said the mix-up will better benefit the community since as a result his group now participates in the "Boo at the Zoo" event at the Lake Superior Zoo, and they have started discussions to put on haunted sleigh rides on Duluth trails.