By Nancy Covert
Town tennis players and basketball fans—take note. Steilacoom’s Tennis/Basketball court on Lafayette Street will be unavailable for sports use from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning June 15 through Sept. 7.
Those are the dates for Steilacoom’s Farmers Market—a town tradition for the past three summers. The downtown market is one of 14 farmers’ markets around the south sound region.
Since late March, Laura Johnson, the new market coordinator, has settling in to her new responsibilities. She’s eager for the season to begin.
“Vendors like to come to Steilacoom,” she says, adding that she’s seeking egg, poultry, seafood and coffee vendors. The Tennis Court site has space for 45 vendors.
“The goal is to have at least 50 percent farm products—the more the better,” she continues.
Johnson, who is finalizing details on street banners that will be displayed at the four entrances to Town, says she plans to have weekly market updates posted on the town’s website and also on Facebook. She hopes to have a demonstration booth, as well as music.
Before the season officially begins, Johnson will host a meeting for Market volunteers. It’s scheduled for 4 p.m. on May 4 at the Community Center.
If this schedule seems hectic, Johnson laughs and says it’s “no problem.” An 18-year resident of the town, who has had children at SHS for the last 10 years, Laura has volunteered in some capacity or another that whole time.
She’s also co-chaired the annual Red Ribbon Bazaar for the past three years. Although she says she’s finished with that project, she expects that “come November” bazaar coordinator Bettye Craft will call for her help.
The farmers’ market season coincides with another town tradition: concerts in the park. The summer concert season begins in late June and continues through the end of August. Concerts in the Park begin at 6:30 p. m. Watch for details.
During the past two years, Johnson adds, she visited the market every Wednesday during the season, and she enjoyed the opportunity to try things she’d never tried before.” That approach will continue, she promises.
Contact Laura at 581-1912 for more information.