Farmers market moves indoors for the winter

It was a bittersweet day at the Perry Street Farmers Market last week, as vendors set up their tables and tents outside The Shop for one last outdoor market day.

This market season has been successful, with sales up by 400 percent, said Brian Estes of the Farmers Market. And there is more good news: beginning today the market can be found indoors at the Emmanuel Family Life Center, 631 S. Richard Allen Court, and many of the vendors will make the move there, too.

“We are excited about the move and we are determined to make it successful,” said Estes, who’s in charge of the market. “The more food vendors we have the better. We want to continue to be a good food source for the neighborhood.”

Spencer Grainger, executive director of the Emmanuel Family Life Center, said he’s excited about housing the market.

“We began partnering with the market last summer when they were still at the church,” Grainger said. “One of our goals is to help provide access to healthy, affordable food and the market does that so well.”

During the off season Grainger said Estes was asked to join the board at Emmanuel Family Life Center, and the center helped the market develop a board of directors and identify a suitable location in the neighborhood.

“We have offered the farmers market office space in the center which they have now,” said Grainger. “Because they are a tenant in the building, they can schedule complimentary time in the meeting room – but we may move it into the gymnasium. I anticipate this will be a very successful endeavor.” Market hours will be 3 to 6 p.m. and more food vendors are needed. To get an application for the farmers market, call (509) 879-1826.

Posted on Nov. 2: Feeling like you ate a bit too much Halloween candy? Or perhaps Sunday football finds you growing into your easy chair? Here we are with the holiday season not really even begun and if you’re like me, the pounds are starting to creep in for the winter.

Well, there’s good news: South Perry Street has its own free-of-charge fitness center. In case you haven’t discovered it yet, here’s how it works: most people in the neighborhood can simply walk to a convenient starting point along Perry, or you can drive to Eighth and Perry and park your car. Then head south through the business district, up the hill and up the stairs, and if you go about two more blocks to Rockwood Boulevard you’ll make it an even mile from the Liberty Park Florist greenhouse. Then turn around and take a brisk downhill walk back to your car. Repeat as needed and you’ll be slim and trim in no time. Obviously, if you get tired along the route there are plenty of places to stop for refreshments. Via e-mail from community blogger Tony Kliment.

Posted on Oct. 29: Colleague Meghann Cuniff covered an arrest on South Ivory Thursday night. Cuniff writes: “Members of the Spokane gang unit saw Brian J. King, 39, while patrolling the area of East Seventh Street and South Perry Avenue, but King fled. Then at 11:05 p.m., residents in the 600 block of South Ivory Street reported a white man in a dark-colored sweatshirt trying to break into a home. Spokane Police Officer Shawn Kendall and his K-9, Stryder, found King hiding near South Ivory Street and East Newark Avenue.” King was arrested.

Posted on Oct. 28: The parking lot at Grant Park is getting paved this morning. For those of us with smaller or midsized cars that’s extremely good news: no more worries about getting stuck in the giant potholes back there. I’m sure it has to cure for a while, so look for parking somewhere else when you come up for the Perry Street Farmers Market this afternoon.