As some of you may have guessed, this will be the last column I write as director for the Sumner Downtown Association. It is definitely true that time flies when you’re having fun.

My thanks to all of you who have taken the time to e-mail or call me to say hi or share a laugh about the topic of the week and to The Courier-Herald for providing me with a venue to write about all things Sumner. A big huge thank you to all the great volunteers, businesses and service organizations who have helped with events and promotions. Thanks to all the folks to have agreed to march in parades or loan their cars, storefronts, costumes, parking lots, gas heaters, lights and sound equipment – especially the sound equipment. You know I love a microphone. Ha!

I have truly enjoyed both of the mayors I have worked with, all of the council members and all of the city staff that have put up with me these last few years and supported our organization. It’s been a hoot to laugh and give everyone a bad time during my downtown reports at council meetings, work with all the city departments to coordinate the many downtown events we host annually and work with staff on projects like historic preservation, flower baskets, murals and downtown art, just to name a few. It is not just rhetoric when I say there is so much talent and heart in our city hall. Nearly everyone has a “can do” attitude, loves Sumner, and thinking outside the box in a progressive way is the norm.

And last but not least, I want to thank the downtown merchants. I have so many friends on Main Street that walking from one end of town to the other is similar to a session of speed dating. I walk in, get a hug, learn what’s new, talk about upcoming events and then move on to the next business. It is pretty common to hear me brag about our downtown businesses and restaurants everywhere I go. I know folks expect it of me because it’s been my job, but they also know I have a passion for Sumner. Well, that, and rhubarb.

And speaking of rhubarb, here’s my last downtown update. A Good Book has sold out of “The Joy of Rhubarb” and both Amazon.com and the publisher are out of the book as well until next month. The liquor store is sold out for the second week of Hoodsport rhubarb wine, Today’s Country Store is displaying fresh rhubarb at the shows they attend and giving out Rhubarb Pie Capital postcards and pins as souvenirs. Dairy Freeze is now serving strawberry-rhubarb milkshakes and Rod Stephens at the Stephens Law Firm has included the rhubarb pie capital logo on his legal brochures, plans to take their company Christmas card photo out in a rhubarb field this year, and gave away rhubarb pies as door prizes at his chamber after hours meeting last week.

Part of the fun of moving forward is being able to look back and smile at the results of a lot of hard work invested by hundreds of people in the community. And believe me, I have a huge rhubarb grin on my face as I finish this last column. I can’t imagine any community I’d enjoy more, or any other place I’d have more fun spending my time. Thanks again to all of you and don’t be surprised if you see me on Main Street.