It’s that time of year again, time for
the market to open full swing. Now, don’t get me wrong, the market has actually
been in full swing all year. So where to start?
A round-up of news since last October when the last Market Fresh column
was printed or the news about “opening day” next Tuesday? Let’s start with the winter market and then
you’ll have to read the whole column to find out about next week (and believe
me, there is some important information you won’t want to miss at the end of
this column).
You may remember that during the previous two winters we moved to the
Historical Society’s Clubhouse for winter market so we could be indoors. This
winter we knew that we had outgrown the Clubhouse and would have to move back
to the pavilion. Luckily the city had secured funding to enclose and heat it
for the winter. But my oh my, what a winter it was. One Saturday the weather
was so bad that we just had to cancel market, but otherwise we managed and were
extremely thankful for the protection and heat. Kudos to the late Chuck Surface
for securing the grant that paid for the improvements and to Parks Director Tom
Reeder who designed and implemented the sidings. (When I say “we” managed, I
have to admit that I spent most of the winter in Australia with my daughter’s
family so it was other hardy folks who did the managing. There were days this
winter when my “high” in Perth was about 100 degrees higher than your “high” in
Webb City. I like my high better.)
In case you missed it, not only did we
stay at the pavilion this winter but we added what we hope will become a major
addition to the winter market – our Christkindlmarket. Look for an even better
version of it next November and December.And look for a special market Saturday when we have our Spring Celebration. We’re open from 9 to noon and we’re expecting at least four farms with all sorts of lovely spring greens, as well as our bakers, egg farmers, and honey vendor. There will be lots of plants, flowers, vegetable, herbs and hanging baskets.
William Adkins will perform from 9 to
11. We’ll have free seed packets from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds – one per
person till we run out. Three artists will be on hand selling jewelry and glass
work. Randi Bachman returns after an absence of four years with her repurposed
fabric items and pottery. Jim Oxley, Tami Fredrickson’s grandpa, returns with
his frilly handcrafted dresses for little girls, newborn to 12 years. He only
comes two or three times a year for our special markets, so don’t miss him. (Right - That's little Josephine in her Jim Oxley dress.)
We’ll have cards at the information
table for customers to sign. The first card is for Dr. Mark Robinson, our dairyman.
Mark was hit by a baseball earlier this week and is in ICU at Mercy in
Springfield with a very serious head injury.
The second card is a secret one for
Bert and Daffol Ott of Black Forest Pastries. They are retiring from the market
at the end of the month. Tomorrow is their last Saturday and then they’ll be at
the market for the last two Fridays of the month.
And now for the important information I
promised. The market opens for the regular season on Tuesday and (get ready for
it) the new Tuesday hours will be 4 to 6 pm. So between 4 and 6 next week, we’ll
have free hot dogs, grilled up by our super volunteers and former city
officials Glenn Dolence and Don Meredith, we’ll have a free Washington Hawthorne
seedling for each customer. The Sours will play traditional music. Stop by the information
table and pick up your free refrigerator magnet with our hours and days for the
season – Tuesday from 4 to 6 pm, Friday from 11 to 2, and Saturday from 9 to
noon.
And while you’re at the information
table, you might pick up a volunteer form. The market wouldn’t exist without
its volunteers and there plenty of tasks to suit any ability. Just this week,
three volunteers worked with 30 middle schoolers to plant onion sets in the
Kids Community Garden. And, of course, the volunteers pretty much run the
market. So if you want to join our volunteer family for a couple of hours a
month or a few hours a week, just let us know.
Next Friday Some Strings Attached play
gospel, bluegrass and whatever else strikes their fancy. Granny Shaffers
returns to the market with homemade bierocks (a German meat-filled pastry that
will be available hot for lunch or frozen for your later enjoyment), chicken
salad sandwiches and strawberry/spinach salad.
It’s going to be another great year at
the market. See you there!
