Forgotten Wonders

As the Labor Day weekend approaches the signs of fall in New England are all around us.  The students are returning to school, the summer heat and humidity is starting to break (hopefully), and a certain feeling of apathy creeps into the air.

It is this apathy that I wish to address in this post.  It seems that all to often we Waterburians forget about the wonderful gems that are right here in the city.  A classic example of this forgetfulness was seen in Waterbury’s own Farmers Market on the Green today.  First opening on July 14, the Farmers Market is a wonderful opportunity for local citizens to take a quick break from work and pick up some wonderful, Connecticut grown, produce.  As it is a new market, it is quite small, but that fact should not detract people from stopping by.  I have made it a point to visit the Market every week this summer, and I have almost always walked away with delicious fruit and vegetables from the vendors.

When the Market first opened it was a wonderful success.  People were coming out of the office buildings, musicians were playing, and everyone seemed excited about the opportunity that was provided them.  This is not the only Farmers Market in the city, but it is the only one that is downtown, on what was referred to at the opening as “Our Green”.  For the first few weeks, the organizers from Main Street Waterbury were quite happy with the turnout.  However, now that we have reached September, the aforementioned apathy has crept in.  The crowd on the Green on September 1 was atrocious.  To think that the workers and visitors to downtown good just think of this Market as just another novelty is insulting to the city.  Anyone who has lived in New England for any amount of time, knows how the weather and the fruit crops change throughout the year.  When the market opened there were peaches, as we reached August blackberries, and yellow watermelon.  Who knows what will be coming up through the weeks, before the Market closes on October 28?

Waterbury, you need to realize that there are great things happening in the city, and that these things are not all gimmicks.  The people who organized this farmers market are not looking for any gain, but for a new life in the city.  They remember the days when the green and downtown used to be a center of activity, especially when the high schools were all located there.  This is something that was setup to last, not only until October, but also for years to come.  We cannot allow this wonderful event fall by the wayside, just because of cynicism and apathy.

I’m not suggesting that everyone come downtown and lay out $20 to $30 each week for the next 8 weeks.  That would be overkill.  But the citizens and employees of Waterbury should at least stop down and enjoy the nice weather, and maybe pick up a $3 bag of apples, or some squash.  We owe it to the city that we call home to stop down and show our support, to remind ourselves that Waterbury is what we, as it citizens choose to make it.  I choose to make it a city on the way up, with wonderful opportunities to shop, and a plethora of things to do.  I see no reason why you should not do the same.