By Cathy Spaulding
Visitors to the Muskogee Civic Center this weekend could find ways to improve their neighborhoods as well as their homes.
At the City of Muskogee booth, storm water compliance workers are demonstrating how to keep yard waste and other products from getting into the local water supply.
The booth is one of 35 exhibits at the Muskogee Home, Garden and Outdoor Expo, which runs through tonight at Muskogee Civic Center.
The Expo, sponsored by Oklahoma Country 101.7-FM, features commercial exhibits from plumbers, builders, rental companies, health food stores and tanning services. The Muskogee Farmers’ Market, Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Honor Heights Park also have exhibits.
“We’re just offering local merchants,” said Cliff Casteel, morning host for Oklahoma Country. “This is an opportunity for people who go to the Tulsa Home and Garden Show to see what we have to offer. We wanted to put a focus on local enterprises, help people with their spring cleaning and their recreation. We have RVs, lawn and garden equipment, interior design, flooring.”
Casteel said the show had a busy crowd early Friday afternoon.
“We are really doing well,” Pro-Way Flooring Center co-owner Warren Kehn said early Friday. “We already are seeing more people than we did at last year’s show.”
Vicky White, community liaison for Professional Home Hospice, found a way not only to tell people about the hospice’s services, but also help grow flowers. She handed out heart-shaped seed “cards.”
“These cards have seeds for wild flowers that come up every year,” she said. “You plant them in honor of your loved one.”
“I’m on lunch break checking things out and hoping to win a fireplace,” Muskogee City Treasurer Jean Kingston said as she filled out a registration slip for a stone fireplace at the Jonez Stones display.
Kingston said she’ll be a little anxious because she heard the fireplace won’t be until Saturday evening.
People not interested in stone fireplaces had all sorts of chances to register for other goodies — a gift basket from Creek Nation Casino, a decorative bird cage from Friends of Honor Heights Park. One exhibitor offered a drawing for a Cub Cadet push lawn mower.
Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding @muskogeephoenix.com.
