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Published August 31, 2008 09:38 pm - CARTHAGE, Mo. — Here they are — the first avalanche of yellow leaves dappling my yard like tiny bits of sunshine. Signs of fall always come too quickly for me. Not that I don’t love fall. It’s probably my favorite season. But fall puts us that much closer to winter, and winters I can do without — especially if they are like the last two we’ve experienced. Fall, in addition to colorful leaves, brings us crunchy apples, cooler weather and kids back in school. It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy the harvest you’ve worked on all summer, whether you’ve been expanding little minds or adding to the larder. Jo Ellis: Fall festivities coming our way CARTHAGE, Mo. — Here they are — the first avalanche of yellow leaves dappling my yard like tiny bits of sunshine. Signs of fall always come too quickly for me. Not that I don’t love fall. It’s probably my favorite season. But fall puts us that much closer to winter, and winters I can do without — especially if they are like the last two we’ve experienced. Fall, in addition to colorful leaves, brings us crunchy apples, cooler weather and kids back in school. It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy the harvest you’ve worked on all summer, whether you’ve been expanding little minds or adding to the larder. Don’t get too comfortable, though. It’s also time to plan and prepare for Carthage’s most exciting annual event, the Maple Leaf Festival. This is the 42nd Maple Leaf Festival, and it promises to be as good as, or better than, all those that came before, according to John Bode, Carthage Chamber of Commerce president. While the festival doesn’t start until Oct. 11, parade entries and event registrations need to be made now. Bode said 26 craft-booth vendors have signed up, and only a few openings are left. Entries to the Little Miss and Mister, Junior Miss and Maple Leaf Queen competitions are open, but sponsors should register at Hometown Bank by Sept. 29. I always want to enter the quilt show, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve let the entry deadline slip by. This year, it’s Oct. 1. Sponsored by the Four Corners Quilt Guild, the show will be displayed Oct. 9-29 at Powers Museum. An online entry form is available on the chamber’s Web site (www.carthagechamber.com). The popular Maple Leaf Bike Ride, sponsored by the Joplin Trails Coalition, had 140 entries last year, with more anticipated for this year’s event on Oct. 11. Riders start and end at Kellogg Lake Park and can take part in 15-, 35-, 50-, 70- and (whew!) 100-mile rides. A children’s bike safety rodeo with free helmets will take place at the same time. You may pre-register at Charles Burt Home Folks or sign up on the day of the ride. For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, the YMCA and Rufus Racing are sponsoring a 5K run, sprint duathlon and mile fun walk on Oct. 12. Boots, Bands and Bar-B-Que, featuring Nashville artist Mark Wills, will return on Oct. 11 to the Royal Oaks Arena. Tickets go on sale Sept. 6 at the chamber for $20. Carthage Technical Center, 609 River St., is offering “A Look Into Our Future,” an open house showcasing the center and its work. A continental breakfast will be served to visitors beginning at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 15 Bode said registration will close soon for the “Three Minutes of Fame” lip-sync contest slated for 7 p.m. Oct. 16 in the high-school auditorium. Entry and attendance are free. Participants must register with the sponsor, Grundy’s Auto Body & Frame Shop, or online. Entries for the Maple Leaf Baby Show, scheduled for Oct. 17, will be accepted at the chamber until noon that day. Registration forms also are available at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital. A $5 fee applies but will be increased to $10 for those who wait until the day of the contest. The big blowout day, Saturday, Oct. 18, is loaded with events. Bode said more than 80 units already are signed up for the Maple Leaf Parade. The Marching Cobras, a parade highlight, will give a special 2 p.m. performance in the high-school auditorium. The cost is $3 for people over 10. The dog show this year is limited to children 13 and under. The sponsors, Central Pet Care and the Carthage Humane Society, request that registrations begin at 12:15 p.m. at Central Pet Care, 224 W. Central Ave. Another old favorite on parade day is the Carthage Fire Department’s pancake feed at 6 a.m. The Carthage FFA’s petting zoo and the Carthage Rotary Club’s Brats on the Square will be on the courthouse lawn. Also on tap are the Maple Leaf auto show at the CMC complex; the antique car and tractor show in Central Park; and one of the week’s most traditional events, the Marching Band Festival, at K.E. Baker Stadium. The Maple Leaf Festival — it’s a good sign of fall. 
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