To the editor: (Shown above) is the Baldwin Farmers Market at 8:30 a.m. after the Fall Festival.
It is evidence that a massively good time was had. A parent approached us Saturday, in tears, to tell us how hard it is for her to afford to take her babies to do fun stuff this time of year because she has a hard time making ends meet. Her beautiful kids looked up at me with big eyes in their homemade Halloween costumes. Their precious little faces were donned with paint by our sponsored face painter. Hands covered in sidewalk chalk and cheeks stuffed full of free candy, they hugged and kissed me. The mom and I hugged each other’s necks, wiped our wet eyes and she said to me, keep doing what y’all are doing in Baldwin. After leaving for a brief school function, they walked back down from King Street to enjoy The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, made smores and enjoyed popcorn before the fireworks started.
We admittedly overcomitted our employees for a 12-hour event. Some of us were there much longer than that. And the hours of planning and overcoming obstacles also did not go unnoticed. Still, Baldwin employees and elected people worked hard with a smile on their face and it was a labor of love.
We are so humbled. We are so proud and it poured out of our souls. Many of us sat back, feet tired, operating on very little sleep, and looked at this mess with tears in our own eyes. I wish I could convey the energy of community that many of us haven’t felt in decades. Everyone was playing games, eating wonderful food... we enjoyed beautiful bluegrass music. And for a member of the Maggie Valley Band to approach us (also with misty eyes) to say they rarely see this type of event with the spirit that was present, was huge.
This is why I fight those who wish to see Baldwin fail. This is why, when someone tries to paint a false narrative about us, I argue until the bitter end. This is why we shout from the rooftops and why we serve humbly. It is a new day in Baldwin.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those sponsors who believe in us and who selflessly supported us to make all of these activities free for our precious, beautiful community and anyone who wanted to be a part of our events. Thank you also, to our vendors who said they loved being at our event and promised to be back every year. It was also an honor to be of service to you and for you and your business to be supported and successful. Because if you aren’t successful, neither are we.
Alice Venter
Baldwin City Council