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The Olympian • Published July 19, 2008

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Thumbs up: Lacey Community Market

For four years city of Lacey officials tried — in vain — to duplicate Olympia's wildly popular farmers market. It didn't work. This year, the city tried a different tactic, abandoning a farmers market every weekend and instead opting for three Saturdays through the summer and fall. The new name is the Lacey Community Market, and the market has been expanded to include artisans, antiques, collectibles, food and entertainment in addition to flowers and produce, mainstays of any farmers market. The Community Market was open for the first time last Saturday and drew an impressive crowd under sun-drenched skies. Hands On Children's Museum organized free activities for children. The Slow Roller Band provided bluegrass music and Rock Candy Mountain performed old-time fiddle music. Lacey's new Community Market was a big success. Mark your calendars now for the final two markets, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Aug. 9 and Sept. 13.

Thumbs down: Wildfires

It's one thing when lightning sparks forest fires that consume acres of timberland and any homes in their path. But human-caused fires are especially tragic because they are generally caused by carelessness. That certainly was the case with the Spokane Valley fire that destroyed 11homes last week. The fire began when a small recreational fire rekindled in high winds, blowing the burning embers into adjoining woodlands. A suspect has been identified and an investigation by the state Department of Natural Resources is under way. Officials said the fire was not a campfire, but more like a backyard fire in a residential zone. The fire resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of people and consumed more than 1,000 acres. There were no injuries. County and state officials announced a burn ban effective last Tuesday in Thurston County. Recreational campfires in specially built fire pits are allowed in campgrounds, such as those typically found in local, county and state parks and in commercial campgrounds. On private land, campfires are permitted with the landowner's permission but only under strict conditions. Be extra vigilant because the Spokane Valley fires show the horror that can follow when a backyard fire gets out of control.