At the Hospitality Table today at Farmers Market were teachers and staffers at Hope Public Schools. Left to right are Misti Flowers, Bonita Laughard, Carla Narlevsky, Deanna Gilbert, Kiffinea Talley and Alma Johnson.

With the first of August happening today, the Farmers Market in The Hub at Pavilion Park definitely had a Back to School atmosphere. This was heightened by the group of Hope Public Schools teachers presiding at the market's Hospitality Table.

Carla Narlevsky, District School Improvement Specialist, described what this morning has been like at Farmers Market: "We've had quite a few visitors. We've been talking about public schools and the millage and voting, and how we're going to move forward and we're having a great positive year. So we've had quite a few people."

Narlevsky was joined today by other Hope Public Schools personnel, including Misti Flowers, Bonita Laughard, Carla Narlevsky, Kiffinea Talley, Alma Johnson and one more important staffer.

The Farmers Market's director--who is also Nutritional Director for Hope Public Schools--Deanna Gilbert said the turnout had not been at its peak for the summer today, partly because of the way heat has affected fruit and vegetable growth lately. "Some of our farmers, the ones that have hoop houses, are starting to kind of run down on things and a lot of them have hay and stuff they have to go to, so we're hoping that things will start picking back up so we'll finish the month. But with this really hot heat, it's it's just affecting a lot," Gilbert said.

"We actually have a new vendor that does baked goods coming next week," Gilbert added. "They just moved to the area. We're going to be here I hope at least through the rest of August and maybe if somebody's got some pumpkins in the fall we'll be able to go past that."

Among the venders present this morning were Papa's Fresh & Local Honey, Arnold Farms, Carolyn's Kitchen, Mint Man, and Aunt Fern's Fried Pies.