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Bring body parts and build a 'crow
Keep Liberty Beautiful
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I feel like I am part of a CSI investigation because here at Keep Liberty County Beautiful, we are busy gathering body parts. Yes, we’re seeking arms, legs and torsos … for our annual Recycled Munchkin Scarecrow Contest at the YMCA’s Community Fall Festival next Saturday.
Everyone is welcome to drop by and help bring their own pint-sized scarecrows to life between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct 31. There is nothing like that “It’s alive! It’s alive!” feeling when a cute little scarecrow is created.
In the past few years, local residents have built dozens of personable little straw people at this annual event, so make room on your calendar, join in the fun and make a ’crow of your own. The contest is open to all ages.
Making scarecrows is not hard. Don’t worry if you have never made one because I am about to give you a crash course. You will see that creating a ’crow is really up to you. They don’t have to be complicated or elaborate. KLCB will bring plenty of “body parts” to choose from, or you can bring your own. Let’s talk scarecrow part by part. Here are a few ideas you can try:
• Backbone: The first thing a scarecrow needs is a backbone. Brooms, mops or wooden dowels make a good start. Any respectable scarecrow needs a good backbone.
• Arms: Use another shorter pole or dowel tied off or wired against the backbone pole, forming a cross. You could nail them together, but binding the poles with wire, cord or even duct tape is fine.
• Head: Lots of items make good ’crows heads. A canvas bag stuffed with straw, a small pumpkin, a gourd or even a plastic container, like a laundry detergent bottle or milk jug can be secured to the broom or pole. Even an old pillow case can make a good head. If you use a broom as a backbone, the bristles can actually be decorated as the face.
• Face: Facial features can be added with permanent markers, paint pens or glued-on felt “eyes.” Craft items like big googly eyes also work well. Inexpensive Halloween masks can give scarecrows a frightening personality. The choices are endless. Just use your imagination.
• Torso: Scarecrows can be overstuffed or stick thin. The choice is up to you. Add a shirt, pants or even a dress to your ’crow and fill it with straw for a full look. String or wire can be used to tie off arms, legs and waist to keep stuffing in place. When you add the pants, consider using a belt or rope to hold the lower body in place. Gloves can be stuffed and tied on to the arms of the shirt.
• Clothing: It is true — clothes make the scarecrow. So, think outside the box. Traditional scarecrows with plaid shirts and jeans are nice, but scarecrows can be so much more. What about making a scary ghost ’crow with a white sheet? Or a formal scarecrow could wear a tux and top hat. And whoever said scarecrows have to be males? There must be Mrs. ’Crows, too, or where would the little scarecrows come from?
• Accessories: Once you decide on your scarecrow’s personality, the clothes and accessories will bring him or her to life. Add hats, hair, gloves and shoes. Scarecrows can be superheroes, Hollywood celebrities, sports figures, models and even political figures. Try making a replica of your kids. One of the cutest scarecrows I’ve seen in the past few years was “Little Eva,” made by Laura Troutman and her daughter, Eva. They used one of Eva’s old Halloween costumes to create a cute, sweet little munchkin scarecrow.
Whatever you choose to do, I promise building scarecrows is fun. The point of the contest is to remind everyone that many everyday objects can be reused for different purposes. Before automatically tossing used items in the trash, stop and think about the other ways “junk” can be used.
We will have lots of things for ’crow creators to use at the festival, including straw, dowels, floral wire, tape, glue, string, markers and more. Or bring your special items to create an edgy character. Look around your house —I bet you have plenty of “body parts” strewn around. Someone call CSI!

KLCB announcements that you can use to help save the environment:
• Monday, Oct. 26: MMS Builders Club and Science Club Rivers Alive cleanup.
• Saturday, Oct. 31. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Recycled munchkin scarecrows contest at the YMCA’s Community Fall Festival.
• Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Recycle it! Fair We will accept electronics, phones, ink cartridges, paint, fluorescent bulbs, used motor oil and more at the old hospital site in Hinesville.
• Nov. 9-12: Business electronics recycling collection. We’ll accept old computers and other electronic equipment for recycling.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, 8:30 a.m.: City of Walthourville cleanup. Participants should meet at city hall. For information or to register, call 368-7501.

For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, contact Swida at 368-4888 or klcb@coastalnow.net.
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