Overflow of vendors for Regional Home and Garden Show
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Organizers of the first Regional Home and Garden Show in Goldendale couldn't be happier with the interest of businesses in showing their wares at what is hoped to be an annual event.
"Right now we have pre-show jitters," said Cindy Bluemel, chair of the Regional Home and Garden Show committee. In addition to a sellout of indoor exhibit spaces, Bluemel said "we have a lot of very good food vendors coming. If for no other reason, people should come to taste a variety of food that isn't normally available here."
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday on the Klickitat County fairgrounds. Parking and admission is free. The fairgrounds are on the northwest edge of town, accessed by turning north on Mill Street, off West Broadway Avenue.
According to Chamber executive director, Mindy Blomquist, "in talking to a number of vendors, they are putting several thousands of dollars into displays, including false walls and two landscaping company displays."
"The clinics will have a variety of topics and target audiences from beginners to experts."
One of the early discussions of the committee was whether to invite businesses from outside the area. The decision to broaden the event to be a regional show has attracted more variety of exhibitors, some coming from The Dalles and Hood River, but also Yakima and one from Seattle.
"The bulk of the exhibitors, all but eight or 10 are local businesses," says Blomquist.
In addition to the 73 vendors in and around the Joan Frey exposition building, there will be two stages for entertainment and educational clinics.
Stage one will feature horticultural tips and music from John Denver tribute artist, Ted Vigil. Klickitat Master Gardeners will cover trees and lawns for Klickitat County, basic gardening, fruits and container gardens on Saturday.
Sunday will begin with a repeat of Fruits 101, starting at 11 a.m. Making gardening easy is the topic at 1:30 p.m., and a repeat of basic gardening will be the final stage one clinic, at 2:30 p.m.
Vigil will be performing on stage at 12:30 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, and at noon on Sunday.
Blomquist recently announced the list of topics for stage two (The complete schedule is listed in the Home and Garden special edition in this week's Sentinel). At 10 a.m. Allyn's Building Center, the title sponsor of the Regional Home and Garden Show, will have a clinic on mutual materials, retaining walls, fire pit, and paving. At noon, Steve Schmitt will provide a Do It Best deck clinic.
KVH will present information on treating insect and and spider bites at 2:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at noon. MT Environmental Technology will have a clinic on green living at 3:30 p.m.
Allyn's hosts Joe Espinola at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, to talk about wood products for decks, railings, fences and low maintenance building products.
There are also several special presentations to be made on stage two throughout both days. Morrison Excavation has presentations on Saturday at 11 a.m. and at 4 p.m. Klickitat Valley Grain Growers is on stage at 2:30 p.m., and Structures Northwest has the sage at 4:30 p.m. Allyn's Building Center will have a surprise presentation on Sunday at 11 a.m.
The idea for a home and garden show came from a Chamber sponsored morning brain storming session, about a year ago. It has been satisfying for the organizers to see the event become a reality.
"It is so exciting to see the work of a year come to fruit," says Blomquist, an appropriate way to describe a home and garden event that comes at a time when the fruit trees in the gorge have just begun to fill the gorge with pink, white and red blossoms.
City image open to debate
Time for productive talk is at hand for the city of Goldendale. Informal debates about the future of the city have been churning for years among the increasingly diverse population.
The city has decided that it's time for the talk to get serious. The public is invited to participate in drafting a long-term plan by attending a workshop at the American Legion Hall on April 25.
"The primary goals of [the] workshop are to align community priorities, focus on key implementation strategies, and form an action plan," said Paula Reeves, representing the American Planning Association's community planning assistance team (CPAT).
CPAT will bring experts in development, historic preservation, growth management, community transportation, landscape architecture, and land use to facilitate the meeting. Among the topics that need some direction are how to integrate the outer, commercial edges of Goldendale with the downtown area, and what kind of general image is desired for the city.
The outcome of the workshop could be far-reaching. The current discussion about road improvements are likely to be impacted by long-term plans for the city.
The Greater Goldendale Chamber of Commerce is working with city officials on the project. There is no fee for participation, but a head count is required. Call the Chamber office at 773-3400.
Hunting Somali pirates has Bingen connection
A drone aircraft built in Klickitat County was part of a successful military operation Sunday that freed an American ship's captain held hostage by Somali pirates.
The drone involved in the rescue was built in 2004 by Insitu, a Bingen company employing about 500 people, that is now a subsidiary of Boeing, according to Jill Vacek, an Insitu spokeswoman.
The ScanEagle, used in the operation weighs just 40 pounds, can fly as high as 16,000 feet, and stay aloft for more than 24 hours.
Pirates ranging from their stronghold in Somalia had attempted to capture the American merchant ship Maersk Alabama on April 8. The hijacking failed, but the American skipper - Richard Phillips - volunteered to be held as hostage to end a threat of violence aboard the ship.
Phillips and at least four captors entered an inflatable raft. U.S. Navy ships converged on the scene, hemming in the raft and starting a standoff that lasted for four days.
Sunday evening, U.S. Navy SEALs were able to individually target and kill three pirates. One pirate surrendered. Phillips was not injured.
The ScanEagle recently marked its 150,000 hour of service with the American, Canadian and Australian military, Vacek said. While the military represents a large portion of Insitu's market, the drone technology also has applications in coastal patrols, science, research and surveillance, she said. The ScanEagle drones carry no armaments.
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