Return a library book, give children a scare

Published 10:46 pm Monday, January 19, 2009

Something very simple can give a kid quite a fright.

Return a library book.

Take a few books to the outside drop for the Mukilteo Library about 7 p.m. Saturday. Shove them into the receptacle and listen closely.

You might hear shrieks — or giggles.

It’s Pajama Party Night at the library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd. It’s planned from 6 to 8 p.m. for ages 5 to 11.

There will be a pajama fashion show, stories, songs, crafts and treats. Register by calling 425-493-8202.

Kids are asked to bring along a sleeping bag and flashlight. At some point during the party, the lights go out.

“We break into small groups and tour the building by flashlight, including behind the circulation desk, staff room and the book drop,” says Katherine Combs, children’s librarian. “It’s exciting when books are dropped off while kids are back there in the dark.”

* * *

Representatives from Bicycle Alliance of Washington will join a meeting of the Edmonds Bicycle Advisory Group.

The meeting is planned for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St. in Edmonds.

Kristin Kinnamon of Marysville is the new president of the Bicycle Alliance, and she’ll talk about what the group is doing in Olympia this session to make bicycling safer.

The Edmonds Bicycle Advocacy Group has supported biking for 14 years. For more information, go to www.edmondsbicyclegroup.org.

When Kinnamon is stuck in traffic, she thinks about how fast she could be going on a bicycle. It’s not unusual for her to ride the 20 miles between work at Community Transit and home.

“When you bike, you are part of the community,” Kinnamon says. “Last night I met another cyclist I know and we rode and visited together for a while. I can say ‘Hi’ to people and smell the lavender.”

Someone asked her recently at a meeting, “You biked here?”

Kinnamon’s answer: “You drove?”

* * *

I can barely stand to write that Snohomish Slew, a frog, will get a jump on the competition.

Oh, that’s bad.

The fantasy frog predicts weather in Snohomish, just like Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania.

Pam Osborne, manager of the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce, says the spring frognosticator extraordinaire, and mighty small hero to all the weather-weary, will make a prediction at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 31 at Ferguson Park, 1330 Ferguson Park Road, Snohomish.

Also, a Go Green Community Frogorama is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 31 at the National Guard Armory, 1501 Ave. D, Snohomish, with activities for the kids and entertainment.

Phil checks for his shadow on Feb. 2, Groundhog Day.

“No more East Coast predictions and forecasts bombarding the airwaves even before the Northwest wakes up,” Osborne says. “Will it be six more weeks of soggy and wet or six more weeks of saturated, foggy and gray? The suspense always makes for ribbitting news.”

* * *

Learn about growing mushrooms Saturday in Sultan.

Washington State University Snohomish County Extension offers the program at 10 a.m. at Ed’s Apples. It costs $60. For more information, call 425-338-2400 or e-mail Karie Christensen at klchristen@cahnrs.wsu.edu.

Owning a fungi farm can be profitable, says Kate Halstead with the extension office. There are at least a dozen different types that can be grown in these parts. Growing mushrooms outside is easier than you think if you follow some basic rules, she says.

“Just about any tree species (outside of cedar) can be used to grow one or more different types,” Halstead says. “Most common around here is using alder to grow shiitakes. You can use sawdust or logs, or even a pile of wood chips, depending on what you want to do and the type of mushroom.”

Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.