If it pays to play the lottery, it also pays to check the ticket

Folks, don’t forget to check your lottery tickets.

Go to the store and stick them in the lottery machine.

It tells you right away if you have a loser or a winner.

Alan Jenks, a contractor in Arlington, bought a ticket for the July 16 Hit 5 drawing.

A couple of weeks later, he decided to check it where he bought it, at Safeway, 3532 172nd St. NE, in Smokey Point.

Shazam.

He won $110,000.

Thanks to snowbirds, a species of retirees who are often spotted in northern states in the summer wearing corny hats and black socks with sandals, the Marysville Community Food Bank has enough hands.

That will change this fall.

“We will need help Tuesdays and Saturdays,” says volunteer Alonna Chatburn.

They appreciate folks with trucks, too, who can pick up goods at stores.

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And they need money for a building fund. For more information, go to marysvillecommunityfb.com/building.aspx.

Eva Gabor won’t be there — she’s dead — but folks visiting Monroe might still get a sense of the old “Green Acres” TV show in which she starred.

Today through Sunday, visit the Sky Valley Stock and Antique Tractor Club’s annual show with participants from Arlington, Marysville and Granite Falls.

There will be a tractor parade, threshing bee, entertainment, children’s activities and food. Saturday, see Mexican dancing horses at 11 a.m. The event is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Frohning Farm, 1524-A Tualco Loop Road, Monroe.

Admission is $5, but kids younger than 12 get in free. Today is a free day for seniors and handicapped individuals.

Proceeds benefit food banks and charities.

“Most of the members are senior citizens,” Stephanie Haynes said. “My family and I are fairly new (three years now) and are ‘younger’ members of the Sky Valley Stock and Antique Tractor Club.”

She said members are so interesting.

“Attending club meetings are a hoot,” Haynes said. “Almost reminds me of the ‘Green Acres’ episode where Mr. Douglas is attending the Hooterville Chamber of Commerce meeting.”

Fun Fact: They know how to throw a party in Darrington.

Greg Vaughn from Arlington says the music festival last weekend at the Whitehorse Mountain Amphitheater was well run by Toby Strotz.

“Toby and his crew put on one heck of a show, just like old times,” Vaughn says. “Everybody was friendly and the shows were wonderful.”

And the most important thing at a music festival?

“The grounds and restrooms were kept clean.”

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