Sentinel Column 5-15-08

Fredrickson Farms will have strawberries at the market today and Shank’s Farms will have asparagus. Ton and Helen Cha are bringing broccoli, Asian leafy greens, green onions and herbs. The wet cold weather has delayed many crops, so it’s wonderful to have some of our favorites finally coming in.

I get to work with some remarkably generous people at the market. Last week I called Hector Troyer who lives north of Fairview to make sure that he, Lois and their new baby boy Lance were alright after the tornado. They were fine, but his neighbor hadn’t been so fortunate. In fact, he was on his neighbor’s roof putting down tarp when I called, could he call me back?

When we talked later, I learned that the tornado had passed less than half a mile from his house and that his fields had suffered some damage. He had hoped to be at market this week with lettuce and broccoli, but the storm will delay his arrival for a few weeks.

When Joe Palmer of Fairhaven Gardens arrived at the market Tuesday morning the first thing he did was seek me out. “When you get a chance, I’d like to talk with you.” He wanted to help the market do a fundraiser for the tornado victims. I went to each vendor asking if they’d make a donation and all were eager to do so. So we’ll have drawings today at noon, 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 for a variety of goodies at the market. Each drawing will be for a generous collection of market products like planters and hanging baskets, produce, honey, jam and jellies, meats, handcrafts and baked goods. All the money raised (and while we’ll ask for a dollar donation for each entry, we’ll be happy to take more!) will be given to the Webb City Jaycees who have a disaster relief fund at Southwest Missouri Bank. The funds will be administered by the Jaycees to help local victims get back on their feet. The Jaycees are also collecting work gloves, safety glasses, ear plugs, tarps, shovels, rakes, chainsaws and chainsaw supplies, water, Gatorade, juice, personal items like soap, shampoo, and sunblock, non perishable food items and baby supplies like formula, diapers, and wipes. If you want to drop any of these by the market today, we’ll get them to the Jaycees.

Lunch today is b-b-q chicken, au gratin potatoes, peas and carrots, bread pudding or banana pudding and a drink for $6. Originally Kay was just doing banana pudding for dessert but in my not-so-bright mind I turned that into banana bread and then into bread pudding, which is what I advertised. So Kay will have a choice of banana or bread pudding. She made my life simple by making hers more complicated.

Jack and Linda Sours are playing traditional music today. They were here last week with Brandon Wooden playing Appalachian mountain music and it was a delight to watch the children come into the market near them. Almost to a child, they burst into dance.

The Webb City Lions Club plans to be at the market this season with drawing for a street-legal three-wheel vehicle. Funds raised will go to their community programs, of which their eyeglass program is probably the best known. Long-time Webb City businessman Lee Englert will staff their booth today.

On Tuesday, the Exchange Club will operate Cooking for a Cause. They are donating their profits to Healing the Family, a non-profit counseling service. Rob Pommert will play the guitar during lunch.