Cool and overcast weather didn’t dampen spirits as an estimated 300 or more area residents came together this last Sunday to enjoy a community picnic and farmers and local business fair. The event was hosted by Prosperity Grange, Restoration Hope Community Outreach, and the Griffin Neighborhood Association. Proceeds for the event were for the benefit of the Prosperity Grange. The grange is currently reviewing bids to upgrade their building’s electrical system.
If you missed this year’s picnic, there’s a photo album growing on our Facebook page. Click here to see that album.
This was the first effort on the part of the hosts to hold an event intended to meet so many simultaneous objectives. Funds were being raised for the benefit of the Prosperity Grange, organizers sought to highlight the many local businesses and farms operating in our area, and (lest we not forget) this is the community picnic held every year around this time. At the close of the day, everyone agreed the event was a terrific success.
Not only was attendance higher than we’ve seen in recent years, we also saw many more families with children. Thanks to the Steamboat Island Cooperative Preschool, Cedars on the Sound, Lighthouse Alpaca Ranch, and others for giving the kids something to do, following the afternoon meal.
A number of local farms and businesses made donations either directly to the Prosperity Grange or in the form of gifts for a silent auction and a golf driving game that was held during the picnic.
A special thanks is made to the extraordinary contributions made by sponsors of the event. Xinh Dwelley, of Xinh’s Clam & Oyster House, prepared claims and curried mussels (seafood donated by Taylor Shellfish Farms). Steamboat Trading Post (formerly Steamboat Island Fuel, at the corner of Sexton and Old Steamboat Island Rd.) donated beverages and bags of chips. Steamboat Golf hosted a game to benefit Prosperity Grange and allowed most of the event (and the parking!) to take place on their property.
Here is a list of the farms and businesses present and some of the donations made during last Sunday’s picnic:
- 4 B’s Farm – a wood turning lathe demo and donation of a wood bowl to the silent auction
- Authority Martial Arts – a martial arts demonstration
- Black Diamond Roofing
- Blissful Wunders Chocolats
- Building Earth Farm
- Cameron Gardens – a large bouquet for the silent auction
- CC Christmas Tree Farm
- Cedars on the Sound – a bag toss game and prizes for the kids
- Chelsea Seafood Farms – donations of sweatshirts and hats to the Steamboat Golf driving game
- Chick Jewelry
- Dogwoods Canine Play and Stay – gift certificate for a 2-night stay at Dogwoods
- Feline Friends
- Griffin Fire Department
- Griffin Neighborhood Association/Steamboat Conservation Partnership
- Ken’s Automotive – donation of gift certificates for free oil changes
- Lemonade Stand (the son of one of the owners of Chick Jewelry)
- Lighthouse Alpaca Ranch – cash donation to the Prosperity Grange (and alpacas!)
- Madrona Grove Summer Fruit Stand – 5% of proceeds of sales to the Prosperity Grange and a $10 gift certificate
- Meyers Woodworks – donation of six cutting boards for the silent auction
- Oliver’s Landscaping
- Open Hands Food Bank Garden (St. Christopher’s Community Church)
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
- Polar Bear Construction
- Prosperity Grange
- Art Ray Plumbing
- Restoration Hope Community Outreach
- Sound Stage Car Audio
- South Sound IT – free computer diagnosis and repair during the event
- Steamboat Animal Hospital – donation of a $50 gift certificate for veterinary services
- Steamboat Golf
- Steamboat Island Coffee Shop
- Steamboat Island Cooperative Preschool – face painting and kids’ activities
- Steamboat Island Grooming and Pet Supplies
- Steamboat Island Market
- Steamboat Junction Farm Stand
- Steamboat Muscular Therapy – free chair massages during the picnic, donation of gift certificates for two 30-minute massages
- Steamboat Trading Post – discount gas cards, donation of all the soda and chips for the event
- Sunrise Hair Design – donation of a gift basket for the silent auction
- Stickman Coffee Roaster
- Thurston County Explorer Search and Rescue
- Xihn’s Clam & Oyster House – free clams and curried mussels with rice!
Many of these farms and businesses are listed in our online local business directory. Do you own or operate a local business, then click here for information about how you can be added to our directory.
Past and present members of the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association staffed a pair of grills and offered hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers to everyone at the picnic. Even a surprise inspection by the Thurston County Health Department didn’t slow the pace of production.
At the information table for the Griffin Neighborhood Association there was on display the Little Free Library which will soon be placed near the front door of the Griffin Fire Department Headquarters. The library was donated thanks to generous contributions from local residents and the Friends of the Olympia Library. Contributions to cover the costs of the purchase and installation of the library are still being taken. Click here for more information about the Steamboat Little Free Library.
There was one tragic set of circumstances associated with this year’s picnic. Bliss, of Blissful Wunders Chocolats, made a sizeable donation of his truffles. But where was all this candy, on Sunday? Rumor has it that Bliss (who was selling his chocolates elsewhere this weekend) delivered his donation to the grange hall on Thursday. These were discovered in the refrigerator by the Steamboat Bluegrass Festival, held in the grange hall on Friday night. We understand the Bluegrass Festival was quite a success and we’d like to think that was, if only in a small part, because of the chocolates meant for our community picnic.
We hope to see you all at next year’s community picnic. But wait! Do not forget the Blueberry Bash, Sunday August 25th at St. Christopher’s Community Church! We’ll see you all there.
And, around 3:15, the sun did come out.
Did you attend the community picnic? What suggestions do you have, for next year’s picnic? Leave your comments here.