Page 10/The Sun and News, Saturday, March 9, 2024Barry Community Foundation to hold indoor
market, gauge public interest
Jayson Bussa
Editor
With a lull in craft shows,
January and February tend to
be a slower time for business
for Rayann Wilcox, owner of
RC’s Bees.
That’s why she is so excit-
ed and optimistic over a new
concept being launched by
the Barry Community
Foundation, which gives
customers a chance to find
Wilcox with her booth of raw
honey and honey products
before the warmer tempera-
tures of spring and summer
move in.
“Typically, January and
February are my slow monthsbecause of not many craft
shows,” Wilcox said. “This
would be an awesome oppor-
tunity just for the fact that
it’s local and it could be con-
sistent every other weekend
... I’m hoping it takes off.”
Wilcox was one of the
over 25 local farmers and
artisans who signed up to
participate in a new indoor
market being coordinated by
the Barry Community
Foundation. Essentially a
carbon copy of the Hastings
Farmers Market, which
occurs downtown on
Wednesdays and Saturdays
during the warmer months,the indoor market will be
held inside on both today
(March 9) and April 13 from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Barry
Community Enrichment
Center. There, shoppers can
find local products from
small businesses in the com-
munity.
Wilcox is a regular at the
outdoor farmers market and,
as a result, is giving this new
concept a try. She said that
many consumers who buy
her products forget that she
also sells out of her home,
therefore it is crucial to be in
the public eye with her raw
honey.
She is not necessarily
alone in that plight, either,
which is why the Barry
Community Foundation is
dipping a toe in the water to
see if an indoor market might
be in demand and viable for
future years.
This year’s installment
will include just two days,
and each day will feature
dozens of local vendors and
artisans, some of which, like
Wilcox, will be familiar
faces from the outdoor mar-
ket.
“We had a co-worker that
went to Europe and experi-enced a lot of the European
indoor markets. She came
back and pitched it to us and
we thought it would be a
great thing for our farmers,”
said Annie Halle, COO of
the Barry Community
Foundation.
Extending an invite to out-
door market vendors first,
the inaugural indoor market
didn’t have any problems
attracting people to sell.
“We sold all of the spaces
within a day,” Halle said.
“But we want to make sure
that we have patrons for
those individuals. It’s a new
concept for our area. We’re
getting the word out aboutthat and about how we will
have the farms and artisans
here to support our local
economy.”
The indoor market will
feature products that include
oven-fresh bread, jams and
jelly, maple syrup, mush-
rooms, goat milk products,
eggs, meats and jewelry,
among other things.
There is no cost to enter
the indoor market and park-
ing is available next to, and
around, the Barry Enrichment
Center.
If it’s successful, then res-
idents can expect a local,
indoor shopping experience
next year,
“Our goal is to have a win-
ter market next year and
bring farm fresh local food
and wares to our communi-
ty,” said Tammy Hayes,
Barry Community
Foundation coordinator for
the Hastings Farmers Market
program. “This is the first
time we’ve offered this pro-
gram and we hope to gauge
community interest in the
winter market.”Grand Rapids Public Museum offering sensory-
friendly days
GRAND RAPIDS – The
Grand Rapids Public Museum
(GRPM) is introducing
Sensory Sundays, an initia-
tive designed to support visi-
tors on the autism spectrum,
and individuals with other
sensory processing needs.
Starting Sunday, March 10,
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and
continuing on the second
Sunday of April, July, and
December, the museum will
offer a tailored experience to
ensure an inclusive and acces-
sible environment for all.
Sensory Sundays, set for
March 10, April 14, July 14,
and December 8, will feature
adjusted sound and lighting
within current exhibits to
create a comfortable,
low-sensory experience.
These adaptations aim to
minimize anxiety and pro-
vide a more enjoyable visit
for individuals with sensory
sensitivities. Additionally,
visitors can experience a
low-sensory planetarium
show in the Chaffee
Planetarium, and explore the
museum’s current exhibits,
including Mandela: The
Official Exhibition, Building
Buddies, and the GRPM
original exhibit Fashion +
Nature. All are welcome to
attend these inclusive muse-
um events, regardless of
whether they benefit from
the reduced sensory input.
In partnership with
KultureCity, the museum
offers a limited number of
sensory bags available for
checkout at the front desk.
These bags, equipped with
fidget tools, noise-canceling
headphones, and other
resources, are designed to
improve the museum experi-
ence for guests with diverse
sensory needs.
“The GRPM is committed
to offering an inclusive expe-
rience that caters to both
physical and cognitive acces-
sibility,” said Dale Robertson,
President & CEO of themuseum. “Collaborating
with KultureCity allows us
to welcome families to
explore the museum in a
low-sensory environmentand integrate sensory-friend-
ly interactions across our
programming.”
This initiative reflects the
museum’s dedication to con-tinuous improvement and
engagement with the com-
munity. Visitors are invited
to follow the museum on
social media or join the
GRPM mailing list for
updates on future inclusive
activities.
To plan your trip, visit
grpm.org/accessibility for
more information.
In addition to the Sensory
Sundays, the GRPM will
host a low-sensory eveningto celebrate Autism
Awareness Month in April
following the Hope Network
Bridge Walk for Autism, on
Thursday, April 25. Join hun-
dreds of community mem-
bers for a walk that cele-
brates inclusiveness, neuro-
diversity, and the belief that
everyone deserves a chance
to be included. Visitors must
pre-register for both events.
To register for the Bridge
Walk, visit hopenetwork.org.68
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http://www.cellsignalpros.com People with the Right Connections!The Grand Rapids Public Museum is offering a
limited number of sensory bags on its Sensory
Sundays. The bags, equipped with fidget tools,
noise-canceling headphones, and other resources,
are designed to improve the museum experience for
guests with diverse sensory needs.The Grand Rapids Public Museum will debut
Sensory Sundays, an initiative designed to support
visitors on the autism spectrum and those with other
sensory processing needs, on Sunday, March 10. The
museum will have three other sensory-friendly dates
scheduled throughout the year. (Photos provided)Just as she does at numerous craft shows and
markets throughout the year, Hastings-based honey
producer Rayann Wilcox of RC’s Bees will set up
shop at this weekend’s Barry Indoor Market to sell
her raw honey and honey products.BARRY INDOOR MARKET
Saturday March 9 and April 13
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At Barry Community Enrichment Center
231 South Broadway in Hastings