On Ramona?s main street is the Sunflower Maiden. Not far away, in front of the Senior Center, is the Bride and Broom?a collection of scarecrows made out of brooms to resemble a bridal party. Further down the street, Tony Meyer?s scarecrow is mowing his lawn. The Cousin?s Corner Bed & Break?fast has cousins playing badminton in the yard. The Misfortunate Biker?the one who collided with a tree?can be found on E Street. On B Street, Jakie Brunner is sporting new overalls as he hangs on his ladder to clean the eves.
This is just a sampling of the scarecrows found in Ramona. Some can be spotted on the road into town.
Scarecrows on Parade began in Ramona in 2001, and spread to neighboring towns in 2005 and 2006.
Jessica Gilbert, organizer, said she had hoped the expanded five-town version of Scarecrows on Parade would flourish, but several of the towns already had other fall events which they needed to sustain.
The Ramona Cafe will be open again this weekend, after a brief closure while Reign Anduss recovered from a heart procedure. The cafe features Reign?s hamburgers and wife Marlene?s pie.
Cafe hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Monday, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Maps showing the scarecrow locations will be available Saturday at the Ramona Cafe (213 D) and the Dirt Gambler?s Museum (301 D) in Ramona.
The maps will be placed outside of both buildings so visitors can pick one up at any time.
Scarecrows on Parade is supported by these area businesses: Cow Camp Inc., California Sisters? Guest Houses, Ramona Cafe, from Ramona; Barnes Food Center, Angel?s Cafe and Pizza Hut, from Herington; and Tampa Bank of Tampa.
These businesses gave either cash or gift certificates to be awarded in a drawing at the end of the month.
Everyone from Ramona who builds a scarecrow is entered in the drawing.
For more information about Scarecrows on Parade, contact Gilbert at 785-965-7110.
