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Show Page 8 Page 9 CenterPiece Monday, Oct. 24, 2011 A FAMILY WALKS BY the Pumpkin Walk's "Wizard of Oz" display, which is decorated with a sign that reads "There's no place like home." When the Pumpkin Walk comes to its final day, a USU engineering club will host a pumpkin toss, putting all the decorated pumpkins to further use. DELAYNE LOCKE photo THIS SCENE DEPICTS a pumpkin-headed basketball player looking to score from a wheel chair.This creation was dedicated to the creator's mother. DELAYNE LOCKE photo A MOTHER AND SON LOOK at one of the scenes set up in this year's Pumpkin Walk, which is themed "My Favorite Things." It has been a North Logan tradition since 1982. DELAYNE LOCKE photo Walk shows Cache Valleys favorite things BY DELAYNE LOCKE photographer Pumpkin eyes and those surprised by their humorous facial features are lighting up at this Halloween season's Pumpkin Walk , which has been a North Logan tradition since 1982• The tradition, which began at North Logan's old Beutler Farm' lives on. Creations are carved out of farm produce , such as pumpkins' squash and gourds. According to the Pumpkin Walk's historical website' the first year brought in about 200 people. The next year , more than 2,000 people came to see the pumpkin displays and sample Ida Beutler's homemade cookies and freshly pressed apple cider Beutler was the brains behind the Pumpkin Walk Eventually, the attendance was overwhelming for the size of the farm. North Logan leaders decided to step in and host this event so the enjoyment could be continued for generations to come. Each year the Pumpkin Walk Committee picks a theme to have the entries based around. Nowadays the Pumpkin Walk is held at Elk Ridge Park at 1100 E 250o North in North Logan. The theme this year is "My Favorite Things•" Families, friends and organizations gather together and decide on a display that reflects them and the year's theme. Each scene's characters are made mostly from pumpkins and various vegetables. There is no limit to how many locally grown pumpkins are used to make a scene. Some scenes and pumpkins are made to appear life like. The number of these local creations vary each year, but this year 40 groups participated. 41 Nab Some of this year's entries include "The Sound of Music" "Tangled," and "Despicable Me," to name a few. Gina Worthen' who has been on the Pumpkin Walk Committee for more than 15 years' said' "It's fun to bring to life something you like•" Gina's scene added a chill to the October air with a wintry display made up of 4° pumpkins, which were made into snowmen for her "favorite things." Her theme was taken from the "Calvin and Hobbs" comic strip. All around Elk Ridge Park there are hay bails , corn stocks and many carved and twinkling Jack O'Lantern faces. Worthen said there are approximately 500 pumpkins lining the Pumpkin Walk's cement path. "I like to say that for every pumpkin you see , there is probably a volunteer" Worthen said Hundreds of volunteers help each year including the Cache Valley Transit District' which donates buses so visitors can park at Greenville Elementary and hitch a ride to and from the Pumpkin Walk area Other volunteers include teens who help with the Pumpkin Walk for Boy Scout Eagle projects. There is also a large clean-up crew. Businesses donate food for the volunteers on setup days. Paint stores donate mist-tint cans; the local power company donates power and Pepperidge Farms donates cookies to be handed out to visitors. This gives the new generation a sweet' nostalgic taste of the early years when Ida Beutler would hand out her homemade treats. There is no limit to who can participate in the Pumpkin Walk The number of scenes that are made by participants varies each year , Worthen said "It's very unique , there's nothing else like this It's a gift to the community" Worthen said Local elementary schools that are close enough to walk , she said' can visit the Pumpkin Walk as a field trip. Debbie Ogilvie , who has been a volunteer for 1 ° years' said' "The smiles are my favorite part, it's just cool. There's fun things to find in the scenes. It's community tradition' it's great Everyone should come see it." When the Pumpkin Walk is over the backdrops — made from plywood — are saved and filed in a city shed. Some are kept year to year, and others are painted over and re-used for the next year's theme. The pumpkins are usually disposed of because after they've been painted' carved or decorated' she said, plus they mold and can't be used again. This year, however, to further the pumpkins' uses, there will be a first-ever pumpkin toss Oct 29. The activity is sponsored by a USU engineer ing department club. The pumpkin toss will be behind the park on the baseball diamond at Elk Ridge. By carrying on this special event , just like Ida Beutler did years ago , North Logan continues to share the magic and memory-making talents of all those who participate. Jack O'Lantern faces will keep smiling for years to come as the community continues to enjoy classic Cache Valley entertainment 411ft Nib "DESPICABLE ME" CHARACTERS replicate a scene in the Pixar movie where they tested cookie robots.This scene uses several pumpkins and the robots were made from disposable lids. DELAYNE LOCKE photo A SCENE IN "TANGLED" was a popular stop, and was one of many movie-inspired pumpkin creations. DELAYNE LOCKE photo A PUMPKIN SNOWMAN that was part of a "Calvin and Hobbes" scene created by Gina Worthen was made with more than 40 pumpkins. DELAYNE LOCKE photo — delayne•locke@aggiemai•us•edu 41 Na 41% Nib 41110 Vim 4 1110 Nib |