Organizers gear up for Marlborough's 23rd All-Nighter
By Kate Daly Contributing Writer

Marlborough - For the 23rd year, Marlborough High School (MHS) seniors will have a safe place to celebrate after their prom, and they can party all night long.

The MHS Senior All-Nighter is a community event, staff ed by volunteers and paid for through fund-raisers and donations. This year's All-Nighter is set for Friday May 30 and will again be at the Wayside Racquet and Swim Club at 80 Broadmeadow St.

This alcohol-free and drugfree event is open to seniors and a guest, even if they don't go to the prom, organizer Nena Bloomquist said.

"Its primary purpose is to keep them off the roads after the prom," Bloomquist said. "They think they're invincible at that age. They don't think anything can happen and they can make some poor choices, especially this night."

The event, designed to give the seniors a safe place to celebrate, attracted about 270 kids last year, she said.

"We have a DJ; we have a hypnotist; we put on a slide show of pictures parents send in," she said. "There's a theme that's kept a secret …. The committee chooses it at the beginning of the year. We really decorate it. It doesn't look like the racquet club when we get done."

Parents of students in grades eight through 11 volunteer to chaperone and run the games. Volunteers also help decorate and raise money for the All-Nighter. Bloomquist got involved four years ago because she thought it was a great idea.

"It's a last chance for them to really be together before graduation, which is the next day," Bloomquist said.

It's a casual event. Students change into comfortable clothes and bring swimsuits, because they can use the Wayside facilities for swimming and tennis, she said.

Students meet at the High School and take buses to the party. Later, buses take them back to the school.

"They don't have the opportunity to make bad choices," Bloomquist said.

The event is funded by donations and fund-raisers.

Upcoming fund-raisers include:

Order dinner in or take it out at Bertucci's Restaurant on Route 20 in Marlborough Tuesday March 25. For a portion of sales to be donated to the All-Nighter, you must present a coupon, available on the school website, www.mps-edu. org. For more information, call Carol Trio at 508-624-9872.

Attend a wine tasting at the Vin Bin Sunday March 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. The $5 tickets are available in advance only from All-Nighter committee members. For more information, call Lianna Masson at 508-460-6849. If you can't attend, you can purchase a raffle ticket for the donated prizes.

The Ninth Annual Spring Fling Dance gives parents a chance to dance to music provided by disc jockey Bobbie Begg. The dance will be held Friday April 4 at the Heritage Hall/Masonic Building on Main Street. Tickets are $10, and there will be a cash bar. For more information, call Kathie Sullivan at 508-481-7595 or Carol Farese at 508-481-1340.