Ann and Barry Rogers came to Washington-Wilkes on April 14, 14 years ago, about a year after they were married. They founded Otter Creek Gardens on the Tignall Road and in November will have been operating the business for 10 years. In addition to all the beautiful flowers they have, they also have vegetable plants. Ann says this has been a record year for selling vegetable plants because so many people are planting their own gardens in light of the so-called "recession."

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A group of "growers and farmers" have banded together and will be opening a Farmer's Market Saturday. It will not be located in the same place as the Farmer's Market was last year. It will be behind the courthouse and will have a variety of items. Included will be vegetables in season (of course), eggs, vegetable plants, homemade soap, flowers, and other items. When Suzanne Carter came in The News-Reporter to put in an advertisement for the opening, it reminded me of a picture which I have. On the back of the picture is written "First curb market in Wilkes County." Many of you my age (and that's pretty old) and maybe some younger will remember the curb market that was open on Saturdays behind the courthouse in the late 1930s and 1940s. It was just a few steps out our back door at the Rider house and my sister and I could hardly wait for Saturdays because

Miss Mary Cofer always brought delicious chocolate cupcakes and fudge to sell. The picture shows five ladies standing behind shelves of cakes, pies, cookies, corn, turnips, eggs, chickens (sometimes they brought live ones), canned (in jars) fruits and vegetables, knitted and crocheted items, and many other things. I recognize only two of the ladies. Besides Miss Mary, I recognize

Ruth Garrard. . . . So, get up bright and early Saturday morning and see what kind of surprises The Farmer's Market has.

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Sam and Flora Ann McGill's grandson was prominent on television from Augusta last week as he ran in the fifth annual Alleluia Glory Run. Sixteen-year-old Sam won the 5K run, with a time of 17:48. He is a sophomore and is the number one distance runner on the Aiken High School track team in Aiken, S.C. He is the son of Sam and Dana McGill.

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Freddie Gunter has made beautiful stepping stones from tile rescued from the old Allen's Pharmacy, now the Washington Jockey Club. As most pharmacies in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, Allen's Pharmacy had full "fountain service" with all kinds of ice cream and other dairy products, "fountain" drinks, and the nicest little round iron tables and chairs where you could sit and enjoy. Several Washington High School boys got their first experience of work and serving the public at the fountain. Some still remember today some of the eccentric people they served.

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Remember Sara Hyatt, Rosalyn Adams' granddaughter who was severely injured in an accident three years ago? Doctors had little hope that Sara would ever walk or be able to care for herself. But Sara showed them what a fighter she is. She is finishing up her second year as a student at Western Carolina University in Cullawhee, N.C., and will be home for the summer. She already has her eye on a job she would like to have for the summer. She still uses a wheelchair some, but gets around on her own. Her major at the university is Health. She is the daughter of Jim and Charlotte Adams Hyatt.

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Postage rates will be going up again May 11. The mail that most of us will be concerned with (aside from the business world) is first class for a letter which goes from 42 cents to 44 cents. But there is good news. The Post Office Department says that we can continue to mail letters at today's prices by purchasing the Forever Stamps before May 11. Forever Stamps are honored whenever they are used with no need for additional postage for a one-ounce letter. . . . I'm going to buy my Forever Stamps this week.

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The annual Spring Cruise-In sponsored by the Memory Lane Cruisers car club is all ready for the big event Saturday, May 9. The Cruise-In is always held on The Square in Downtown Washington and is a popular event with both car buffs and the general public. The vintage cars and trucks and other kinds of motorized vehicles will begin lining The Square in midafternoon with all the activities to get in full swing around 6 p.m. There will be food vendors present, so you won't "go hungry."

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You might as well say that as of Monday we haven't had any rain for this past week. Norris says he had .2 of an inch Monday morning; and Sonny reports .438 of an inch on Saturday. Both say we're pretty much normal for the year.

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One of the best pieces of news that I have heard in a very long time is that there is some interest in returning the Christmas light canopy to The Square for the Christmas season. The canopy was not only a popular attraction for all of us here in Washington-Wilkes beginning in the 1940s but was known by folks out-of-town who came every year just to see the lights. I think it would be great to have the canopy back now because we have so much more to offer downtown than we used to have and it would bring more people to Washington-Wilkes to shop. We put up a big fight about 10 or 12 years ago to keep the lights, but through the efforts of one person, the lights were voted down and sent to Fort Washington Park. But that wasn't where they belonged and they were eventually done away with.

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Thursday, May 7, is the National Day of Prayer program on The Square at noon.

. John McPherson, who for as long as I have known him has been interested in photography, came by Monday for me to see some pictures which he had made. John is pastor of the Stephens Grove Baptist Church in Oglethorpe County and former pastor of the Tignall Baptist Church. He also worked at The News-Reporter at one time. He and his wife Mary Lou live on Stephens Grove Church Road and have developed their yard to attract birds. He showed me a picture made on that snow day we had on a Sunday in January. In a snow covered tree with snow on the ground there were 23 cardinals. They must have all been males because they were a very vivid red. There was a striking picture of a red-headed woodpecker on one side of a feeder, and a Blue Grosbeak on the other. The colors in the pictures were outstanding. John says he has documented 26 different kinds of birds in his yard, and is seeing more and more. Daughter

Mary Kay still lives in Macon with her husband and triplets -- two boys who are identical, and a girl who looks just like Mary Kay. Sarah and her girls are still in Maine.