Keep eye out for wild animals in zoo-themed corn maze
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Stocker Farms in Snohomish has partnered with Woodland Park Zoo to create a zoo-themed corn maze.
If you get lost in the 10 acres, while away the time admiring the carvings depicting 16 endangered species along the two-mile path.
The maze introduces folks to the animals and their habitat needs, and then there is a test to lead you out of the 10-foot tall labyrinth of trails and bridges.
Stocker Farms features Pumpkin Park, too, and trout fishing, hay rides, face painting and pony rides.
For more information on hours and prices, go to www. StockerFarms.com or call 206-548-2500.
It’s located at 8705 Marsh Road in Snohomish.
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Feel free to trick or treat in Olympia. Stop by the Executive Mansion from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. That will be Gov. Chris Gregoire looking like Elmo. First Mike plans to replicate Super Grover.
Throughout the evening, other “Sesame Street” characters will join them on the mansion’s front porch where they will hand out chocolate bars, including Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Count Von Count and Bert and Ernie.
Five chocolate bars will contain “Elmo’s Golden Ticket.” Each ticket will allow that child and five guests to attend a holiday reception on the evening of Dec. 2 at the mansion.
Gregoire and First Mike have dressed up and invited trick-or-treaters to the mansion each Halloween since 2005. Past costumes included characters from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Happy Feet,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Toy Story” and “The Addams Family.”
Surplus campaign funds will pay for the candy and decorations.
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Orcas are returning to our waters, and for researchers that means it’s poop patrol time.
After spending most of the summer in the San Juan Islands, orca pods are venturing into inland waters, according to the Orca Network on Whidbey Island.
Orca Network assists NOAA Fisheries, the Center for Whale Research and the Whale Museum in tracking the winter travels of southern resident orcas in Puget Sound and along the coast. At 866-ORCANET, whale sightings are collected and shared. Researchers obtain photo identification and prey and fecal samples from the whales.
Whale droppings?
Susan Berta with Orca Network said researchers in a NOAA boat use a net on a long handle and scoop up bits of feces they find floating on the surface.
“They also collect fish scales to determine what salmon runs the orcas are feeding on in Puget Sound,” Berta said.
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One is never too old to belong to a Toastmasters group and work towards becoming a relaxed public speaker.
The Monroe Toastmasters club is planning an open house at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Merrill Gardens, 15465 179th Ave. SE in Monroe.
They have one member who is 92 years old.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451; oharran@heraldnet.com.
