Ghostly way of giving

For the second year in a row, Rafael Adrian wants to scare Carson City into supporting several local charities.

At his own expense, Adrian turned his front lawn into a haunted house last year and collected hundreds of donations for FISH. This year he hopes to make it better.

"The haunted house is an American original, so I wanted to do it," Adrian said. "Plus, it's a good way to promote the idea of helping others."

The house, at 1137 Lindsay Lane near Mark Twain Elementary School, will be bigger and more stable compared to last year, thanks to a donation from a local construction company.

Adrian, with the help of his children began working on the house Sept. 16 and will begin giving tours Saturday.

The house will be open to the public, with the cost of admission being a donation of nonperishable food, toiletries, clean clothes or new children's toys. The items will go to FISH and the Ron Wood Family Resource Center.

"It's just wonderful that (Rafael) is doing this for needy families and getting nothing back," said Karla Silis, CPA for WIC at the Ron Wood Family Resource Center.

More than 300 square feet of black plastic was used to make the house. In all it cost Adrian about $800 to construct and furnish. For the past month he has spent about five hours a night working on the house after getting off his regular job as a residential trash collector.

This year's house will include a melancholy graveyard, Frankenstein's monster and some very engaging pieces of art.

The house will include several monsters, along with sound effects provided by DJ Chava. Adrian has also recruited 10 Carson Middle School students to act as volunteers.

The haunted house will be open from 7:30-9:30 p.m. nightly Saturday through Oct 31.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.