Re-Printed From The Uniontown
Herald-Standard
Woodlands Zoo hosts holiday fund-raiser
By Josh Krysak, Herald-Standard
12/04/2005
FARMINGTON - Area residents wishing for some holiday cheer this
Christmas season will again have an opportunity to ride through a
menagerie of lights at the Woodlands Zoo in Farmington and donate to
the Salvation Army in the process.
Through the combined efforts of the Woodlands Zoo and the Fayette
County Area Vocational Technical School, area residents can tour the
massive display of Christmas lights at the zoo throughout the month
of December, with the majority of the proceeds to benefit the
Herald-Standard Sparkle campaign that raises money each year for the
Salvation Army.
Zoo owner Sonny Herring said Thursday that following a good turnout
for "Lights on the Mountain" last season, the zoo has again erected
more than 500,000 lights on dozens of displays for the month-long
event and has added some new attractions.
Herring said one of the new features, a 32-foot replica of the cross
at Jumonville, is the added feature light display but noted that
several live nativity displays are planned throughout the month, and
Santa Claus will also be on hand for pictures.
He also noted that the two-story dinosaur display will also be a
part of the driving tour.
"We have been putting lights up for over a month," Herring said of
the massive undertaking.
"That is with 6-10 people each day."According to Herring, the displays have been set with the help of
electrical educator
|
 |
Gus Rossi and a group of his students from the vo-tech.
The displays throughout the zoo were handcrafted by the vo-tech
students and the materials for the displays were donated by Petit
Steel and Fabricating in Wheeling, W.Va.
And while Herring said all the help and donations have cut expenses
for the project, some of the incoming money from donations will go
to cover the costs of electrical wire for the lights, a cost that
Herring noted is much greater than last year.
"Last year we were paying $21 for a 250-foot roll of cable. This
year we are paying $56," Herring said. "We're not trying to make
money from this but we just want to cover our costs and then be able
to give to charity."
The zoo, which has graced the mountaintop for more than
a |
|
Photograph by Ken
Brooks Uniontown
Herald-Standard |
decade and moved to his current
location along Route 40 at the old amphitheater, will be opened
for the driving tour each evening Wednesday through Sunday from
6 -10 p.m.
Anyone visiting the display can also make an additional donation and
purchase a "Spark," Sparkle's offspring, which are also constructed
by vo-tech students, for display at homes and businesses to further
the drive toward Sparkle's 2005 goal of $40,000.
Additionally, area residents can participate in a contest sponsored
by the zoo and the Herald-Standard in which Sparkles and Sparks
displayed in area businesses are counted.
According to zoo officials, anyone wishing to participate can simply
tally the number of Sparkle and Spark displays in specified
businesses across the county and turn in a total to the zoo prior to
deadline.
Once the totals are tabulated, a winner will be drawn from correct
entries.
For more information on the contest, continue to follow the Sparkle
campaign in the Herald-Standard.
During December, the zoo will host Santa. The elves will be on hand
at the zoo Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18. Also, children from the Noah's
Arc Club will enact a live nativity at the zoo Dec. 3, 7 and 10.
And tour-goers can stop at the Christmas Gift Shop and enjoy
roasting marshmallows and indulge in hot apple cider and cocoa at an
outdoor fire. The light tour will run through Dec. 31.
