– Hunter Moore

It took him sometimes to knock over all the pins down the lane, but he accomplished his goal at last. The result was satisfying. “That was fun playing,” he laughed!

 – Marilyn Hisen

Hisen was selling bracelets made out of buttons. She has been doing this for 15 years.

“This is my vocation,” she said. “I can put them together in any configurations.”

She showed me all the unique ones she made. Among them, there is one made of buttons from the undergarments of civil war uniforms.

“They are just buffalo bones because no one could see them.”

– Gene ?

During the car show happening on Garfield street, I found a man sitting way behind his car.

“Why are you sitting so far away from your car?”

“Well, the sun is usually there. Here is the shade.” He smiled at me.

His car is a 1938 Buick, which he has had for 13 years. He found out about the car through a club that he joined, and then he went to pick it up from Thousand Oaks, CA.

“Can I have your name please?”

“Gene,” he said.

“And your last name?”

“Just put a question mark there,” he laughed, but was not joking.

– Varinder Heera

Her booth gives out information about Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, a non-profit organization engaged in the practice of meditation.

“Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan means ‘Divine light. Awakening mission.’,” she explained.

“Why do you believe it?”

“I like it because it is not about a religion. It’s about being good to yourself and other people. Overall it is good for your spirit. Strong spirit can do anything.”

– Marsha Evans with Sierra

He seems tired out, lying prone on the ground when I saw Sierra. Many kids found him extremely adorable that way.

“Sierra gets very excited coming to the fair,” Marsha said. “He loves to walk and smell all the smells. And we just shared a hot dog together.”

Grinning at her dog, Marsha told me, “he is a very lovely boy.”

– Jo Jellen

“What is your happiest moment so far?”

“I like to see all the kids,” she looked to Dariana Sotelo and her brother who are very into their handwork at the moment. “They are the second ones who wanted to make the bookmarks.”

Later Dariana looked up and asked whether or not I was a reporter. I laughed and said yes. She then just smiled and continued gluing more pieces onto her bookmark.

– Marsea Ochoa

Coming to Garfield Street Fair is Marsea’s first time, but she seems excited.

“I opened an online store in 2007, and I made all the stuff here. And it takes me a little under 2 hours to knit a hat.”

“What is your happiest moment so far?”

“Seeing all my things set up. That’s my favorite thing.”

– Denise Wheeler

The only ice cream vendor at the fair also enjoys the fair.

“What is your favorite moment so far?”

“I like the music and people watching,” she smiled. “Just hope the sun comes out soon, so they can buy my ice cream.”

I then threw her a hard question. “Why do you think this fair is important to the community?”

“It builds the fellowship for one another,” she simply answered. “It supports our neighborhood.”

– Shirley LaWall

While I was across the street taking pictures, I noticed the lady in the audience waving the baby’s hands along with the music, in joy.

“He is my grandson,” She said to me. “I heard about the fair from my daughter-in-law who is selling her stuff out here. She is a crafter. I live in Seattle. “

“What do you like the most about this street fair?”

“Good music,” she laughed.

– Abby Peterson (the second one from the right) with friends & siblings

I was amazed when she said she made all the decorations on the table.

“Is this the first time you have attended the fair?”

“This is my third year doing this,” she recalled. “I used to live in the Garfield house. We owned a consignment shop here. “

   – Robert Cerins

He was invited to help out the booth set by Discover Parkland. He stopped me when I passed by and asked gently, “would you like to add one color onto this picture of Garfield Street? Pick any colors you want!”

Looking at the picture he referred to, I was surprised. “Did you draw the whole thing?”

“I have been a painter all my live” was his response. I knew I had my answer

Knowing that some of the buildings on Garfield St. would soon to be torn down, he told me, “I try to capture what is going to go away, so we can hold on to it. That’s my style.”

– Bob Harmon

“I have been working for Rotary Club for 35 years. We prepare food baskets for people who don’t have food.”

“Do you enjoy doing this? And why?”

“I enjoy doing this because it gives back to the community,” he said. “I have helped about 1,200 people.”

– Anthony Gayman

“What are you doing here?”

“I am the sound guy here,” he smiled.

“How do you like it so far?”

“It’s always a blast.”

Photos by Violette Wang/Discoverparkland.com