By Fred McCarthy
The Second Street Market is not only back, it’s better than ever!
It was a beautiful, warm recent Friday afternoon in Langley just prior to the summer solstice. Upbeat accordion music filled the air. Crisp white tents with welcoming vendors lined both sides of Second Street intersecting the plaza.
The green leaves of lettuce and chard, sparkling red cherries, aromatic and tasty herbs, and spectacular rainbow-hued flower arrangements and bouquets added color to the venue.
One of a kind jewelry pieces, inviting adventure books, and iconic photographic images beckoned the shoppers to linger and ask questions.
Ben Courteau, the market manager, was enjoying interacting with the vendors and greeting the tourists and locals in the plaza and also was with his wife, Melissa, at their Flying Bear Farm booth.
I was struck by how much work it takes to set up and take down a farmers’ market and how important it is for citizens and tourists to support this kind of local activity. It presents a weekly opportunity to build community and buy healthy food, art, and unique handmade goods from these hard working neighbors, friends, and entrepreneurs. I see a number of regular customers from nearby Brookhaven and think how fortunate they are to be able to walk a block down Clyde Alley from their apartment complex and be in the center of a thriving market in a town plaza.
This is the way community thrives in many towns and cities around the world. I encourage everyone in and around Langley to make a Friday afternoon visit to the market a regular part of your social schedule and shopping plans.
And when you are there, please don’t forget to stop for a snack, a bottle of wine or a coffee in the adjacent shops to complete the afternoon experience.
By the way, have you ridden the new electric bikes from Callahan’s Firehouse? They are brightly painted, have the latest in lithium battery technology, are simple to operate, unique in design and have enough range and speed to take you all over the South End of Whidbey Island on one of our scenic community bicycle loops.
Each of us is an essential piece of the interconnected fabric of our community. These exciting experiences are at our doorstep and welcome our participation and support this summer. Let’s all enjoy them together!
Sincerely,
Fred
