Fall is easily my favorite season. One of sweaters, soup, spices and the savory tones of the leaves changing color. One of my favorite things to do with the kids in the fall (aside from jumping in freshly raked leaves of course) is wandering through a tall corn maze. Pair that with a tractor ride, a stop at the sheep and picking a pumpkin and you have a perfect location for simple family traditions. I didn’t know where to go nearby Kamloops but after chatting with some locals and reading a few boards I discovered Pete Murray’s Corn Farm they are open 7 days a week for the month of October from 10am til 4pm.

Here is some info from their site:

During the week we enjoy hosting many schools and pre-school groups. Saturday and Sundays we offer families wagons rides to the pumpkin patch with a stop to visit our sheep. The three official ride times are – 10:00 a.m. – Noon – and 2:00 p.m. It’s best to book in advance for the wagon rides if possible. The ride is $5.00 per person and that includes one pumpkin each. Groups that want a ride just for their friends and family can request that as their preference. If you are just looking for pumpkins we will have a selection in the yard brought in from the field.

Pumpkins are cheap! $2 $4 & $6 dollars for your pick from the field Wonder if I can find 3 stubby round ones for $10? I’ll keep ya posted or better yet you let me know.

They are located in Chase at 5973 VLA Rd definitely worth the drive for picking pumpkins close to kamloops. See you out there!

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Parents of children of all ages this may or may not affect you now but it will almost definitely in the near future. There are some pretty major changes on the table for SD 73 Elementary and Secondary schools alike. If you have a child in school or entering school in the next few years this information is for you.

“Up to 11 elementary schools and two high schools could be closed as soon as the 2010-2011 school year as part of a total Kamloops-Thompson school district overhaul.” read full article from June annoucement

Here are the meeting dates for schools in our area. You can read about why small community parents in Vavenby will have to fight even harder to keep their community alive here.

* Sept. 28: Vavenby elementary

* Oct. 1: Westwold elementary

* Oct. 7: Savona elementary

* Oct. 8: Heffley Creek elementary

* Oct. 13: Pinantan elementary

* Oct. 20: Logan Lake secondary

* Oct. 26: Haldane elementary (Chase)

* Nov. 3: Westsyde secondary

* Nov. 5: Brock secondary

* Nov. 9: Regular board meeting to decide elementary closures

* Nov. 12: NorKam secondary

* Nov. 17: Sa-Hali secondary

* Nov. 19: Valleyview secondary

* Nov. 24: Beattie school, Pineridge campus

* Nov. 26: South Kamloops secondary

* Dec. 14: regular board meeting to decide secondary closures

* Jan. 12: Ralph Bell and Marion Shilling at Henry Grube

* Jan. 14: Summit and South Sa-Hali at Henry Grube

* Jan. 19: Lloyd George and Stuart Wood at Henry Grube

* Jan. 21: Arthur Hatton and John Tod at Henry Grube

* Jan. 27: George Hilliard and Kay Bingham at Henry Grube

* Feb. 22: Regular board meeting to decide inner-city closures

They are making decisions based on what the community insists upon. We have a voice. They are not going through all the trouble of holding these city wide meetings for nothing. If you have an opinion on what happens with the elementary schools in your area whether your child will be attending or not please please consider making the time to attend or write a letter.

Contact your school and get in touch with the PAC. There are many PAC meetings that will be held prior to the meeting regarding your school. If I can round up dates for individual school PACs I will. Most PACs I have heard are providing free babysitting because they see it as important that parents are able to attend. All parents. So go. Have your say. Don’t let our schools be closed without hearing your voice.

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