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Vendors flock to springtime event |
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Written by Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
Patterson resident Bonnie VanDusen has big dreams for the Spring Time Family and Vendor Fair, which took over Patterson’s North and South parks on Sunday.
 Edward Forbes, 11, grabs a lollipop at the Sucker Pull game at Sunday's Spring Time Family and Vendor Fair. Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator
“We hope to make it into a junior Apricot Fiesta,” she said.
Though it isn’t there yet, she and other members of the Patterson’s Mamas and Me group drew a healthy number of vendors for the inaugural event.
Close to 150 people braved the wind Sunday to peruse the downtown celebration, which featured dozens of booths, with contents that ranged from candles to information about health and community events.
Children kept busy at game booths scattered throughout North Park as a disc jockey played music in the background. Even dogs got in on the action in a canine play area.
“The whole goal is to make sure people in the community know (what’s) here — to make a difference,” VanDusen said.
The event also raised $1,500 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life program through vendor fees and perhaps $300 through children’s games and raffles.
Vendors and attendees, like Jeff Essex, said they were surprised at the size of the event, though VanDusen said she wished even more people could have been there.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Essex, who took his two daughters to the fair. “When I came by, I was pleasantly surprised.”
He said his daughter Kylee found out about the event through her Girl Scout troop.
“I’m trying to get him to buy me something,” Kylee said, eyeing the wares of nearby booths.
Sherry Allmon, who attended with her son William, was drawn by the information on autism, her son’s disorder. She said she was impressed with the fair, which she thought seemed to have more booths than other local events.
“It exploded into something very positive for the community,” Allmon said.
 Members of the Summer Spirit demo team from Patterson Gymnastics and Cheer perform a dance routine in North Park. Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator
Vendors had mixed reactions to the turnout, though all who were asked said they were glad they attended.
Yvette Rogers, an instructor with Baby Signs, which teaches courses on sign language for infants and sells related products, said she ended up getting a lot of prospects through the fair.
Next door, Tom Higby helped run a PartyLite candle sales booth for his wife, Linda. He said business had been off and on, but he noted it was a first-time event and that he and his wife had made new contacts.
“It’s been worth it,” he said.
A few people with dogs also stopped by the dog agility course run by Augusta Farley of Best Friends Pet Resort.
 Augusta Farlet of Best Friends Pet Resort watches her dog, Masai, play with a ball in the canine play area. Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator
Marlena Cardinal, who heads the Newman-based dog park advocacy group Friends of Sophia’s Dogs Park, said some of the play equipment used in the dog area eventually will be available at the dog run in the T.W. Patterson Sports Complex on Ward Avenue.
Dance and cheer groups from Patterson Gymnastics and Cheer also were on hand to entertain, and VanDusen’s family and Mamas and Me ran nearby game booths and drawings.
VanDusen said she already has plans to expand next year’s event, hopefully to Plaza Circle.
The 26-year-old Patterson resident started Mamas and Me as a working mother looking to meet other mothers in Patterson. The group, which was formed through the social networking Web site MySpace last year, has since grown to more than 45 members. Usual club activities include play dates, barbecues and bunko nights.
For information on the club: 892-1424 or
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