Health & Safety Fair: Community collaboration

This year’s event had several sponsors help the Clatskanie School District, as well as more than 40 booths from several community organizations. The music group Late Harvest donated its time and played beautiful music outside.

This year, proceeds will go toward the school district’s health and wellness funds, said Melissa Korsmo, who has served as chair of the fair for the past three years. The fairs have been going on for at least 12 years.

The free event was made possible through generous donations of goods and services. Clatskanie Boosters donated their services and the District donated the food. Clatskanie People’s Utility District covered the majority of advertising costs.

On behalf of organizer, Korsmo thanked sponsors and the community for the generous donations. She said the event raised $600 for the District that would be directed to three projects.

“The planning partners would also like to thank the Clatskanie School District, Clatskanie Boosters, all the participating venders, volunteers and entertainment that helped make the Clatskanie Health & Safety Fair such a success,” Korsmo said.

“Without the efforts of everyone involved, including the attendees, this event would not be what it is today, or what it has been throughout the years,” she said. “We have so much gratitude and feel blessed we are able to share such an important event with this community – an event that has been fostered by the collaboration of many.”

Event organizers included representatives from Columbia County United Way, Clatskanie School District, Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District, Wauna Federal Credit Union, and Clatskanie PUD.

Clatskanie Farmers Market partnered with the Health and Safety Fair this year. Korsmo said Marianne Velliquette was very involved and helpful with organizing the event.

Korsmo said the cost of putting on, setting up and transporting Block Fest was all covered for the fair and the participants. She said this can be an expensive display to set up, transport and manage at an event, but well worth it.

One of the tables had a small set of model houses, power lines and a rather scorched looking school bus.

“It catches on fire sometimes,” Sarah Johnson, customer service and public relations manager at Clatskanie PUD, said of the model bus.

The small exhibit was a learning tool for Clatskanie PUD to teach families about science and safety related to power in communities. They were just one of several presenters and tables at this year’s Clatskanie Health and Safety Fair.

Just a few tables over, Pam Merkwan was helping out on behalf of Columbia Pregnancy Center. She said she couldn’t wait to see what happens in the next few years to come.

“This is the best one I’ve been to,” Merkwan said.

Sean Bassinger contributed to this story