Farmers Market to stay at Pavilion

Carson City's Farmer's Market will spend its seventh season at the Pony Express Pavilion next year.

The city-sponsored store was such a success in its first year off Third Street, market manager Shirley Adshade-Sponsler said, the Redevelopment Authority should support the market in its new position.

The authority's citizen committee decided last week the market's location out of downtown didn't help downtown businesses, even though the pavilion is in the redevelopment district. The committee suggested not funding $2,000 requested to keep the market going in Carson City until it could be prove the market helped redevelopment-district businesses.

Adshade-Sponsler argued the market brought hundreds of people to the underused pavilion.

"When 300 people come to a different area, they see it in a different light," she said. "I can't even begin to explain what a wonderful experience it was. We found the perfect home in the pavilion. It worked perfectly."

City supervisors, who make up the redevelopment authority, agreed with Adshade-Sponsler and opted to again sponsor the event.

"I was very pleasantly surprised, to tell you the truth," Adshade-Sponsler said. "I would have done it (without their support). It would have been difficult and I'm not sure how I would have done it, but I would have done it. I see many opportunities for the city to get involved, that it make this a positive element for the community."

She said the pavilion offers shade and dust control that the location downtown didn't.

Last year the city gave $4,300 to help advertise the market. Adshade-Sponsler said she is looking for grant money to help pick up extra costs.

The farmer's market pulls several fresh produce and craft vendors into one area for people to socialize and shop. The farmer's market will start June 14, 2000, and run every Wednesday until the second week of September.

Adshade-Sponsler said she hoped other downtown businesses would do something extra Wednesday nights to play off the farmer's market and promote a family-oriented night for Carson residents.