Volunteers commended
Saturday morning, it took just one step out the door to realize exactly what day it was.
Even if you live blocks away from Main Street, the evidence of the Arts and Crafts Fair was probably located right in front of your house.
What was that evidence? An infinite number of cars stretching out on Hillsboro's streets.
One thing's for sure: On Saturday, people were everywhere.
More than 60,000 people showed up Saturday for Arts and Crafts. That number smashes all previous totals.
Add that to the more than 400 craft and food booths, plus the number of locals who also enjoyed the day, and you've got yourself one packed house.
But none of it would have been possible without one thing — the volunteers.
They start at the top with fair director Donna Diener, who's in her second year as the person in charge.
It continues on through the Arts and Crafts Association and Chamber of Commerce organizations, with folks like treasurer Marcella Mohn and Chamber office personnel Carol Wiebe and Rhonda Toal.
The volunteers were everywhere Saturday, serving up barbecue beef sandwiches smack-dab in the middle of the Main and Grand intersection, selling tulips for the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and just giving a helping hand wherever needed.
And don't forgot those high schoolers who did the most thankless — but very necessary — job of all: dumping the trash cans.
Every one of those people made Saturday a success.
For those of us who just showed up and enjoyed the day, we had it easy.
But the huge event known as Arts and Crafts doesn't come together by itself. It takes months and months of behind-the-scenes work to bring it all together.
Let's make sure we say "Thanks" to those who made it possible.
— JENNIFER WILSON
