Eighth-annual Family Fair held Wednesday at the Mountain Lake Fire Station
FOSTER ANDERSON MODELS his red firefighters’ hat, received as he, his dad and his sister were welcomed to the eighth-annual Family Fair, hosted by the Mountain Lake Fire Department at their Fire Station.
Families, firefighters, food and fun were the features at the 8th-annual Family Fun Fair, held Wednesday evening, October 8, at the Mountain Lake Fire Station, and hosted by the Mountain Lake Fire Department. The event is for families with children up to 10 years of age.
The Family Fun Fair is held each year in conjunction with National Fire Safety Prevention Week.
Families visiting the fire station were able to get an up-close look at the fire-fighting equipment and visit booths representing community and county agencies to gather information, as well as participate in activities and crafts.
Booth vendors will included Sanford Medical Clinic-Mountain Lake, Mountain Lake ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education), Mountain Lake ECI (Early Childhood Initiative), Head Start, Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services Agency, Girl Scouts and Foreign Exchange Students in Mountain Lake.
In addition, each child attending the fun fair will receive a free book courtesy of ECI, a firefighter hat courtesy of the fire department and made a fire-fighting dalmatian dog art project as sponsored by ECFE, as well as other items distributed by the participating vendors.
A free supper of hot dog, chips, raw veggies, cookie and beverage was served courtesy of Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake.
Sponsors for the event include the Mountain Lake Fire Department, Mountain Lake ECI, in partnership with the Southwest Initiative Foundation.
Below is a series of photographs from the event.
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE Fire Department pulls the majority of their fleet into the street outside of the fire station to allow for an up-close-and-personal look of the vehicles and equipment. Also parked on hand is the Community Action Transit van.
THE SIGN-UP area outside of the fire station is a busy area all throughout the event. At sign-up, children were able to select a free book of their own from the selection provided, as well as receive other gifts.
VOLUNTEER JAY SCHIED, left, handles the book distribution, while Mountain Lake Firefighter Trey Hopwood hands out stickers and Tootsie-Roll Pops at the sign-up table.
WITH A LOOK of joyous anticipation on her face, Nevaeh Ott chooses her favorite color Tootsie-Roll Pop.
VOLUNTEERS SERVING UP the free meal includes Reva Hulzebos, left and Josefina Mendoza, right.
THE FIRE STATION-turned-dining-and-display area, is a crowded and lively place.
MOUNTAIN LAKE FIREFIGHTER (and dad) Ken Classen shares a meal – and a few moments – with daughter, Keeley.
HALI JANZEN, FRONT, reaches her fishing rod up high into the air in order to lure a colorful fish to her hook. The fish is redeemed for a prize at the Sanford Health Medical Clinic vendor’s booth. Meanwhile, her big sister, Kelby, back, munches down her chocolate chip cookie and observes her sister’s luck at fishing for and landing the “big one.”
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS attending Mountain Lake schools this school year – Mountain Lake Public High School and Mountain Lake Christian – pop up free popcorn to hand out to Family Fairgoers. Scooping up a bagful is Finn Hoppe of Mountain Lake Christian. Assisting was Vladislav “Vlad” Mikhailenko from Mountain Lake Public High School.
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE Early Childhood Family Education sponsors a craft area at which the youngsters are led by volunteer Rachel Potter, standing right, in making a fire-fighting dalmatian dog.
DAMIEN DAVISON, LEFT, gets a little help from his mom, Laura Carlson, right, in finishing off his firefighter-hat-wearing dalmatian.
AT THE HEAD Start booth, the youngsters are able to let “rockets” fly – with a little squeeze and resulting air force. Above, Claudia Garza watches closely as her “rocket” leaves its “launch pad.”
ALLY HANSON SCRUTINIZES the variety of Halloween holiday pencils in the pail at the Girl Scouts booth before selecting her favorite.
THESE FOLKS HAVE their eyes glued to . . . something . . .
THAT SOMETHING HAPPENING that is so interesting is Mountain Lake Firefighter Jason Sumner, right, as he puts on each piece of the clothing and equipment worn each time a firefighter goes on a fire call. Explaining the purpose and importance of each item is another firefighter, Andy “Sofie” Ysker, left. This demonstration helps make the appearance of a firefighter seem not so frightening – if the he or she underneath all the gear – is on hand to rescue people from a burning structure and to help fight the fire.
THERE ARE ALL kinds of places on a fire truck on which to climb or crawl into – and Bryn Bell finds her own special spot.
SITTING UP HIGH in the driver’s seat of the rescue truck (and pulling the cord that blasts the warning horn) is Chloe Jensen.
