By Meagan Blanchard
The second week of September at UMPI has become many people’s favorite week of the year. Homecoming brings, not only the school but also its greater community, together to enjoy many different events. Saturday during homecoming is full of numerous events to enjoy with friends and family. One of the events that brings people together is the Snowy Owl Marketplace. Every year vendors from all around gather in Gentile Hall to sell things of all kinds.
People from everywhere come to see the different things that the marketplace has to offer. Some look forward to it every year. UMPI’s chief business officer, Betsy Sawhill Espe, attends the marketplace yearly and will often help the clubs. “It’s not like other craft fairs,” Espe said. There are more than just signs and soaps. You are also able to learn new things, such as what your energy is by using tarot cards. Among many other people, Espe decided it would be interesting to get her energy read. “My energy is good. Never doubted though,” Espe said. She will continue to come every year to help out the students and support vendors.
This year, even though there was a hurricane on the way, lots of people still came out to sell their art and crafts. Some vendors attend the market every year, growing closer to the UMPI community. And for some, it was their first year! Samantha Mattly and her mother, Brenda Mattly, were among the many participating in the market for the first time. They were selling all sorts of different crochet plushies that they made themselves. Samantha crochets little animals and fruits, while Brenda makes pumpkins. “Only takes us about half an hour for each one,” Samantha said. They didn’t just get a lot of attention for their booth. They were also impressed with the market itself. “Everything is so well organized,” Brenda said. She had time to look around and buy a few things from other vendors. Everyone supported everyone else.
Even some of the student clubs get involved and sell things to help them go on spring break and other trips. The past few years, people have started to look forward to the amazing food the International Students’ Club makes. Sheng Yang is one of the many club members. This year he was at the booth selling while the rest of his club cooked the dumplings. “We get lots of experience!” Sheng said. He was able to meet lots of new people. This year club members all worked together to make dumplings and rice. These were a great hit! There was a line waiting to get hot food on a cold, rainy day.
There was more than just food that student groups were selling. Take the Student Organization of Social Workers. Maddie Buzza and Kristin Ray were two of the students who sat at the SOSW table. This was the first time that they had sold anything at the market. But what they had caught a lot of people’s eyes. They sold three different varieties of plants with cute sayings on the pots such as, “I wet my bed.” “The plants were a huge hit!” Buzza said. The club members nearly sold out of all their plants by the end of the market. This took their club a step closer to being able to attend the United Nations World Social Worker Day in the spring.
A great crowd comes and supports UMPI students and the different vendors. The Snowy Owl Marketplace brings the community together with food and trinkets. Each year brings in new people. There is always something fun to do. You are sure to find something unexpected that you like.
