Village farmer's market to premiere June 2
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

This summer, the Village of Williamsville will be featuring a farmer's market every Saturday from June 2 to Oct. 27.

The market, which is being held in cooperation with the Williamsville Business and Professional Association, will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Williamsville Water Mill, 56 E. Spring St., and is being sponsored by the Glen Park Tavern and Dave Smith Ford.

The Main Street entrance to Spring Street will be closed to traffic, encouraging patrons to park and walk through the market.

According to Ellie Grenauer and Lynn Schwab, farmer's market coordinators, the market will have 11 consistent vendors throughout the summer and will have a variety of products, including homemade pasta, honey, fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables, flowers, cheese, wine and baked goods.

"We'll have what's in season when it's in season," Schwab said.

The market will also have a picnic area and freshly brewed coffee by Kornerstone Coffee.

"I think we forget where food comes from, so the market is good to remind adults and educate children that food doesn't just come from the grocery store," Grenauer said.

The goals of the market include offering regional farmers a venue to sell products, highlighting the village's businesses, sustaining an open air market that encourages healthy relationships through interactions between consumer and vendor and collaboration between village committees and groups.

"I envision people coming to the market and then stopping for lunch or doing some shopping," said Village Mayor Mary Lowther, noting that one of the key components of the market is that patrons will be walking around the market and village. "There is nothing like getting a different vision of a house, store or community when you walk."

Area restaurants, including the Glen Park Tavern and The King and I, will be doing cooking demonstrations throughout the summer using the market's fresh products. Recipes from these demonstrations will be available.

Entertainment and music will also be provided during various weeks of the summer.

Stefani and Avid Goddard will perform at the market's opening on June 2.

"It's like we turned on a community faucet and all of these talented people came out," said Schwab. She noted that the board and volunteers have done everything from creating sandwich board signs for the market to handling administrative duties to coordinating the site and the vendors.

"We owe our committee members and volunteers a world of thanks," Schwab said.

"Everywhere you go, there is a real 'buzz' about this market," Lowther concluded. "I anticipate it will be warmly received by the community and will do very well for both the vendors and the village."