Farmers’ market draws attention with mermaid

Mermaid Vicki demonstrates how a mermaid can get out of her wagon while tender (and sister) Sonja introduces her to the gathered crowd at the Washington Farmers’ Market. (Photo by Jane Primerano)

WASHINGTON — All farmers’ markets have special ways of bringing customers to the tables, but the Washington Borough Business Improvement District may have the only mermaid.
On Saturday, Aug. 6, Mermaid Vicki (Victoria Thiel) was ferried into the newly-named Veterans Park in a Radio Flyer wagon.
Her mermaid tender was Sonja Thiel, the interim executive assistant at the Washington BID and Vicki’s younger sister.
Their mother, Melanie Thiel, is BID director and came up with the idea to entertain children to give parents more time at the market, which is held in the center of downtown Washington.
After taking the side off the wagon and demonstrating how a mermaid transfers to a lawn chair, Mermaid Vicki sat with her tail in a kiddie pool and read children’s books. More entertainment came from Erin Grins walking on stilts and teaching kids to juggle while their parents shopped.
Dove Environmental Education featuring Mike and Diana Dove provided animal-themed crafts for kids and lessons in caring for the environment for anyone who stopped by.
Piper’s Hill Farm was selling produce adjacent to the Buttzville Brewery tent as the proprietors were talking about the advantages of locally grown hops. Local honey and flowers were also available as were craft and gift items.
The market’s location downtown gives it ample free parking and allows shoppers to run all their Saturday errands in one place.
Thiel and the market committee provide entertainment as well as a rotating variety of vendors.