Camp Sherman Bazaar returns with fun, charm

Back again after a one-year absence, the Camp Sherman Holiday Bazaar at the historic Camp Sherman Community Hall welcomed holiday shoppers and out-of-town guests last weekend for a down-home Christmas crafts and art fair complete with a crackling fireplace and vintage charm.

The holiday marketplace and bake sale was a fundraiser to benefit scholarships given by the Black Butte School Foundation.

"In various stages and forms, this event has been going on for nearly 30 years," said organizer Ann Schreiner. "This year was very successful and we're really happy with the turnout. We had a lot of local vendors and artists join us to help support the school foundation and the kids did a great job too and had a lot of fun."

Inside the cozy hall, guests browsed through a dozen tables laden with glazed pottery and collector bowls, hand-painted ornaments, art cards, funny Dogs Of Camp Sherman calendars, student-made Christmas wreaths, artisan jewelry, mini coal shovels, historical society notepads and a mouthwatering selection of seasonal baked goods, including Betty Farm's famous Sisters Traffic Jam preserves, walnut fudge and old-fashioned peanut brittle.

Cold weather gave a great excuse to linger longer and sit by the fire with a mug of coffee and slice of apple pie. Many of the vendors sold out of items early and were pleased with their total sales for both Friday and Saturday.

"We like to do this on Thanksgiving weekend because it's the time when a lot of second-homeowners from Portland, Eugene and Salem come over for one last visit to their cabins before winter sets in and they shutter them up for the year," said Schreiner. "And we always see many old friends and new families who make this an annual November tradition they really look forward to."

Beginning on Friday night when the doors opened at 5 p.m., people were lined up across the whole hall floor for a tasty meal of chili and soup provided by the Parent/Teacher Organization from Black Butte School.

"We weren't even sure the bazaar was going to happen this year, but the vendors were excited and made it all happen and we're so glad they did. It takes a lot of community help to put it on and I thank everyone for their contributions and time. We're definitely going to do it again next year."