By Lorrie Maras

Art is all around us in our beautiful town and color surrounds us. But gray days are soon here. So Arts Alive! is back once more to remind you to come into the gallery on Cole Street. It is open at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, closing at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday. Here you will find color and a feast for your eyes. Fall pictures, cards and wreaths abound. The holidays will soon follow and starting to do holiday shopping early and locally is a good thing. Stop in soon.

Put Dec. 17 on you calendar. Arts Alive! is having a Christmas open house from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be shopping to do, perhaps some sales too. And food, music and the drawing for the quilt will take place at 7.

Comments from people coming into the gallery last week were: “I always get my cards here and my friends now look forward to getting something different.”  Or, “I know I can get a gift that is just right and unique.” Or “I cannot find a place that has the variety of such beautiful things and knowing they are locally made makes it so special.”

We are soon saying goodbye to our gallery manager, Elaine Lynest. She has spent many hours getting the gallery up and running, smoothing problems and giving encouragement and advice when needed, arranging events and teaching classes. Her dedication to Arts Alive! over the years has been such a gift to us. She plans to continue teaching but we must find a gallery manager and soon. Your help is needed here. If you think this is a fit for you or someone you know, stop in and pick up the qualifications our committee has put together on this volunteer position. The resume should be submitted by Dec. 1 to the gallery either in person at 1429 Cole or by mail at P.O. Box 442, Enumclaw, 98022.