St. Regis Christmas Bazaar supports community
Russell McKague, of St. Regis, who turns driftwood into decorative art pieces shows off one of his pieces at the bazaar. (Chuck Bandel/Mineral Independent)
Kathy Koepke, left, and Eileen Wolff, right, community center members and bazaar organizers. (Chuck Bandel/Mineral Independent)
Jill Fry, with samples of the hand made, beaded jewelry she and her husband Elmer produce, at the St. Regis Christmas Bazaar. (Chuck Bandel/Mineral Independent)
Saturday was national Small Business Day, aimed at attracting Christmas shoppers to the many and varied products turned they bring to market.
Those kinds of products, produced by skilled artisans and crafts people were on full display all day Saturday at the annual St. Regis Community Center Christmas Bazaar.
Among the more than 20 tables full of locally crafted items was Russell McKague, a St. Regis man who’s ornate driftwood productions were more than artistic expression.
“This was something I turned to in hopes of getting my life turned around,” said McKague, standing alongside meticulously shaped and sanded pieces of driftwood plucked from area riverbanks.
“I was going through a lot, including a time when my heart stopped working.”
He said he was hiking along a river earlier this year when he stopped to look at a particular piece of wood that seemed to have a face. When he stooped to pick it up, his heart literally stopped. His wife and friends who were with him helped bring him back for the near death experience over the next few months.
“I found there was a real uniqueness in the individual pieces of wood,” McKague said. Intrigued, he took some driftwood home and began hours of work sanding and polishing the wood to the point where the grain came out and the long hidden colors blended together.
“I’ve put hours, days and even weeks into working with these pieces,” he said.
He came to the bazaar hoping to share his work and experiences with others, as well as reap some reward from his labor.
Eileen Wolff, one of the event’s organizers and a supporter of the Community Center, said the many beautiful pieces on sale, along with the stories that go with them, are what makes the event a great thing for the community.
“I really enjoy being part of this,” Wolff said. “I’ve been involved for a few years now and it’s always been a popular event with the community. Shoppers and crafters come from all over this area.”
Wolff said those who wish to display their arts, crafts and food items pay a modest $10 each for space inside the Center. Funds raised from the space rentals along with a raffle for several good gifts at the end of the day help generate funds to keep the new Center working.
“There’s a lot that goes into keeping the Community Center going,” she said. “There’s a lot of upkeep involved and these funds help with all of that.”
The bazaar also generates funds that help provide at $1,000 annual scholarship for
a deserving St. Regis High School student.
Jill Fry was one of the exhibitors, showing hand made beaded jewelry she and her husband Elmer made from their home.
“We come to see all the really nice things here and to meet all the people,” she said. “These are some really good handmade items.”
Other exhibits featured homemade smoked cheese and fish, chocolate gravy and other notions, candles, antler earrings and more.
“We always have a great variety of things to buy,” Wolff said. “People start reserving their spaces as soon as they hear when the bazar is going to take place. It’s a fun community thing.”