Sky Valley Chamber declares Winterfest a success

The Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce is calling this year's Winterfest craft fair a huge success, as hundreds of guests came from all over the Sky Valley to shop for a wide variety of products crafted by local artists and entrepreneurs.

The Saturday event took place at Sultan High School. The upstairs portion of the school featured live musical performances, hot food, photos with Santa Claus and numerous vendors, while downstairs showcased additional vendors and activities for kids, including a bouncy house and a booth to make gingerbread houses. Firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District No. 5 raised money for their annual leukemia fundraising initiative and spread word about their Visit Santa at the Fire Station event noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Winterfest is coordinated by community volunteer Elizabeth Emmons and Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Copple. This year's celebration was sponsored by Teamsters Local Union No. 117.-á -á

Sales were brisk all day, said Gold Bar City Councilmember Davi Martin. Martin had a booth downstairs, and spent the day peddling honey made by her husband, Bob Delvecchio, and her own flavored vinegars. Martin also featured Tupperware and antique canning jars.

Sky Valley Arts Council President Mary Ritzman brought many items from her store, Ellie and Clarence, a tiny gift shop located in Index. Ritzman's items are known to be folksy, whimsical and artistic, as well as reminiscent of the Sky Valley. She recently had fabric created with the theme, "Sky Valley Road Trip,GÇ¥ which includes vibrantly colored icons representing Index, Startup, Gold Bar, Baring, Sultan, Stevens Pass and Skykomish. Each icon features a visual representation of that community.

She also had material fashioned after the artwork of local painter Jacquie Miner, who was commissioned by the city of Sultan to create the new interpretive signage in Sultan's Osprey Park. Miner's painting features all of the elements of Osprey Park rendered in watercolor, including the Sultan River, salmon and the trail system. The map was based on the true layout of Osprey Park, and incorporated all the things that a person might see while on a walk through the area.

Ritzman used the colorfully themed prints to create items like pillows and pot holders.

Last year, Ritzman partnered with Copple and several other individuals to found the Sky Valley Arts Council, which is currently working on several projects including renovations at the Startup Gym. In October, the council was presented with a cultural impact award from KSER radio station, for the organization's efforts to promote arts in the Sky Valley.

Miner had a booth featuring a selection of her artwork, including small framed watercolors paintings featuring the designs she incorporated into the Osprey Park interpretive map. In order to make her art more accessible, Miner has long been transforming her paintings into affordable greeting cards, and recently expanded her inventory to also include clocks and coffee mugs. Miner's work can be purchased at GroWashington stores in Sultan, Snohomish and Everett.

Raffles held throughout the day raised money for the Volunteers of America Sky Valley services center in Sultan.

For more information on the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce, visit www.skyvalleychamber.com.-á -á