Tristi Pinkston joined Lisa Hillier on The Wave to promote a number of upcoming community events, including the Tuesday Farmer’s Markets from 12-4, the Short Stories Fundraiser for the Bear Lake Senior Center, Writer’s Workshop pre-registration and the Art Gala coming up in September.

(0:00) Okay, and with me this morning I have Tristi Pinkston here. Tristi, you’ve been here several (0:06) times. We always talk about fun things when you’re here.
You always come in with a smile. (0:11) Are you always happy? Well, I wouldn’t say I’m always happy. But you always put on a happy face? (0:18) I’m always willing to bring the party wherever I go.
How’s that? I believe that about you because (0:25) I’ve never seen you without a fun happy smile on your face. So I love that. All right, but we’re (0:31) here to talk about all the fun things that you are involved in that are coming up.
Oh, so many things. (0:37) Oh my goodness. And I was just telling you, Lisa, that I’m going to have to come back again soon (0:42) because there’s so much I can’t possibly fit it into one spot.
So we’re going to just dive right (0:47) in because I’ve got four things that I want to mention today. The first is for the last few (0:54) months I’ve had the absolute fun of being part of the Montpelier’s Farmer’s Market. (1:00) And I just want to give a shout out because we are going to be at our location until the end (1:06) of September.
And I want to make sure that everybody knows what we’re up to. We have taken over the lot (1:14) between Fizzy’s and Family Dollar here in Montpelier. We are there every Tuesday from noon until four.
(1:22) And we have got such a fun assortment of vendors. We have got produce. He’s got tomatoes and corn (1:30) and peppers and cantaloupe.
Oh my goodness. And the cantaloupe is amazing. Oh my goodness.
Let (1:35) me tell you that cantaloupe. And last week I got one of his watermelon, best watermelon I’ve ever (1:40) had. And so all that wonderful, fresh, local produce is available right now.
We have local (1:46) honey. We have 3D printed toys. We have jewelry.
We have so many things. I mean, you’ve just got (1:56) to come down and check it out. And, you know, do your birthday shopping, get something for dinner, (2:01) do all the things.
But these are all created by local artisans who, you know, they’re, (2:08) they’re basically just bringing you the things that they love to create so that you can love (2:14) them too. So come on down every Tuesday between noon and four. Like I say, they’re between Fizzy’s (2:20) and Family Dollar in Montpelier.
And just enjoy. Because these products, honestly, if I, if I don’t (2:29) spend more than I make in a day, it’s kind of unusual. I’m there with my handmade cards and the (2:35) books that I write and journals that my daughter’s designed.
And so I enjoy being there. But mostly (2:42) it’s the people. I love the vendors.
I love the customers. It’s just a fun, feel good, get your (2:47) local produce, support your local economy. It’s a great day.
So I’ve noticed you’ve been highlighting (2:54) individual vendors each week on your Facebook page, which I love because I was noticing. And (3:00) in fact, my daughter and I, you know, you get on and you start just flipping through things. And (3:06) I always stop at your, at your posts about the farmer’s market to see who you’re highlighting (3:11) and what they’ve got and, and super fun.
So anyway, I love that you’re doing that. (3:18) Yeah. Well, it just gives the vendors an opportunity to a little bit more personally (3:22) showcase who they are and what they do.
Cause I think that sometimes when you go into a market, (3:27) there can be so many booths that picking out individual ones kind of becomes a blur. And so (3:31) I wanted to make sure that each person got their turn. And unfortunately the summer is only so long (3:37) and we had a bunch of vendors.
So sometimes some weeks I’m going to have to double up to make sure (3:41) that we talk about everybody, but I love that you read those posts. Yeah. I love that.
And I, (3:46) I am one of those guilty people that, um, sometimes I’m just on a mission. I’m, I’m in a (3:52) hurry and I like, I’ll be honest. Um, I had somebody bring me out one of those cantaloupes (3:59) and it was so amazing.
So the next week I went looking for one of those cantaloupes, (4:03) but I just go straight in to what I want and I walk out and I don’t really browse around because (4:08) I don’t have a lot of time. So I love that you’re highlighting those cause now I’m more aware and (4:12) I’m like, Oh, well, okay. Now I’m going to go see if I can find that.
What else have I been missing? (4:18) Yeah. I just went straight in for one thing and out. And so I’m going to try to do better.
(4:24) Well, you’ve got to try the sourdough bread and you’ve got to take a look at Becky’s cute (4:29) crocheted animals. And there’s just so much, there’s just so much. And always come see me, (4:34) even if it’s just to say hi.
Yeah. I noticed they had, someone had, uh, (4:39) bags that they’d made out of old, um, chicken feed sacks and things like that. People are so (4:44) creative.
Yeah. It’s the Barker boys who do those. And isn’t it great? Because what I love about that (4:51) is that it’s a reusable bag that’s made out of something reused.
So it’s like doubling down on (4:56) that whole recycling thing, which I just think is so great. So yeah. Come on down to the farmer’s (5:02) market.
We will be there until the end of September. Okay. And, uh, we love to see everybody (5:07) there.
Even if you just browse, even if you just say hi, we love to see you. So I need to do better. (5:13) Yeah.
Just go straight in for the cantaloupe. Although that cantaloupe is amazing. You know, (5:17) if you’re going to be lined for anything, the cantaloupe is worth it.
Oh my goodness. That (5:22) cantaloupe. I, my taste buds were singing songs of joy.
Same, same. Yeah. Best, best melon.
Yes. (5:29) So that’s the first thing I want to talk about. Okay.
The second thing, you know, I’ve been in (5:33) here before and we’ve talked about the Bear Lake Senior Center and we’ve talked about how each (5:41) year they look for sponsors and various forms of funding because they really run on a shoestring (5:46) budget. But the center is such a valuable resource for this community. We have so many (5:54) wonderful seniors who bring so much life and wisdom and vitality to our area.
And the center (6:03) provides hot meals. I’ve had the privilege of being a driver for the hot meals delivery program (6:10) for about eight months now. And so we go around, I take my brother-in-law with me as my helper (6:17) and my little niece, and we go around and we take hot meals to people who are shut in (6:23) and who need a hot meal brought them.
And it has been such a fulfilling thing to get to do. (6:31) And we have loved doing that, but we’ve become aware of other needs that the center has that (6:37) unfortunately money is what this world needs. And when you’re a nonprofit and you’re trying to (6:44) get that funding, it can be very difficult.
So I had an idea and I just want to clarify this (6:51) isn’t an Arts Council project. This is just a trustee project. So it’s just important for me (6:57) to make that clarification.
In my writing career, I’ve had the opportunity to make a lot of (7:05) connections in the book publishing world. And so I’ve had the opportunity to meet fabulous authors, (7:16) fabulous people who are learning how to write, fabulous people who are maybe carrying stories (7:22) around in their heads that they don’t know that are in there. But I’ve come up with the idea of (7:27) putting together a collection of short stories about the seniors in our lives, whether they be (7:33) beloved grandparents or a neighbor or an aunt, and just sharing these little moments of when they (7:39) touched us in a certain way, when they taught us a nugget of wisdom and putting them all together (7:44) in a short story collection, which we will print and then sell.
And the proceeds will go back to (7:51) the senior center. I love that. And so I realize this is super short notice.
I only got the idea (7:58) the other day. And we want to have this done and out by Christmas. So I am asking, I’m sending out a (8:06) call to everyone in the community who has a story that they’d like to tell about their mom or their (8:12) grandpa or someone who was near to them, who touched their lives in a certain way.
Tell me (8:18) their story, so that we can include it in this anthology. And what we’re asking is that each (8:25) person whose story is accepted, is that they make a donation to the project of $30. That $30 will go (8:32) toward buying print copies of the book so that the center can sell them at no cost to themselves, (8:39) but they can keep the full profit.
No one involved in this project is keeping any of the money. I am (8:46) donating my time. I’ll be doing a professional edit on the stories.
I have a wonderful cover (8:52) designer who’s donating a cover. I have a wonderful formatter who’s donating a format. And so we feel (8:59) like we’re going to be able to put together a really fun thing.
And then you can buy a copy (9:05) down at the senior center, or it’ll also be available on Amazon. And all the money, like I say, because I (9:11) really want to drive this point home, 100% of it is going to go to the senior center and help them (9:17) provide those hot meals and help them with the programs that they put on that support our (9:22) community and show respect to our seniors who so richly deserve that opportunity for friendship (9:31) and visiting and the classes that they offer. I mean, it’s such a fantastic organization.
We really (9:37) want to build that up. So what I would like for you all to do is think a little bit about those (9:43) important people in your life. Even if you’re not a writer, reach out to me because I’d be happy (9:50) to interview you and construct a story out of your memories.
So this is something we can (9:57) collaborate on together and help commemorate those people. So contact me. My name is unusual.
(10:05) I apologize for that. I have to say that because it’s also my email address. So Tristy Pinkston (10:13) at gmail.com. And if you can’t find me through there, go ahead and message me through the Bear (10:20) Lake Arts Council on Facebook.
It’s not an Arts Council project, but you can find me there as well. (10:26) And it may be a little bit easier to find that way because there are actual words that people (10:31) recognize in English. So Bear Lake Arts Council on Facebook, or you could also go to Bear Lake (10:39) Arts Council at gmail.com. And either of those ways we can chat and we can get you involved (10:48) in this fantastic opportunity.
Okay, so moving on because there’s still so much. (10:56) Now we’re talking about Arts Council projects. This October 11th is our next Writer’s Workshop (11:03) and we have brought together a fantastic gathering of published authors who are going to come in and (11:11) teach various different genres in the writing world.
We’ve got poetry and fantasy and nonfiction (11:19) and memoir and reimagining fairy tales and romance and science fiction and so many other things. I (11:32) would love to invite you all to come down and register. You can find that on the Bear Lake (11:38) Arts Council Facebook page.
Or again, shoot us an email at bearlakeartscouncil (11:44) at gmail.com and we will hook you up where you need to go. If you register early, (11:52) you’ll get your lunch included. Early registration ends on October 1st.
(11:57) But regardless of what level you’re on with your writing career, whether you’re just dabbling your (12:03) toes or whether you’ve got published books, there will be amazing information here at this (12:08) conference for you. And plus, it’s just an awful lot of fun. So this will be October the 11th, (12:15) held at the Oregon Trail Center here in Montpelier.
It’s an all-day event, $35, (12:21) which includes your lunch if you register by October 1st. If you’re a student, it’s $25, (12:27) which I have to say that is a killer price for all the information you’re going to get, (12:32) plus all the fun. I mean, you really can’t buy this kind of fun.
You just can’t. It just like, (12:37) it has to spring forth, you know, and it springs. Believe me, we know how to make it spring.
So (12:43) come on down and join us for that. Okay, last thing. I realize I’m throwing a lot at you.
(12:50) There’s just so much amazingness going on. Okay. For the last few years, we have had the (12:56) wonderful opportunity of putting on an art gala.
And Jocelyn Wilson is our committee chair (13:05) for that event. She does a fantastic job of reaching out to the community and seeking out (13:13) people who may or may not know that they’re artists. And the theme for this year is reframe.
(13:20) And she wants for us to all think about art in a new way, reframe our perception of it. (13:28) And so we’re going to have categories for Legos, and for furniture, and for different kinds of (13:39) sewing. And she even has a category for trash as art.
Now, I don’t think she means like rotten (13:47) banana peels. But you know, recycled materials are things that we might never consider could be (13:54) artistic. But with art, it all comes from a place of what’s inside of you that you want to convey.
(14:03) And sometimes people don’t realize that what they’re creating is art. And so she would like (14:08) to reach out into the community and say, if you’ve got these creative inclinations, (14:14) come out and show us. Let us see what you’re up to.
So she will have a booth at the fair (14:21) where she’s going to have all the information for how to submit your pieces of art. (14:28) And she’ll just have an entry form for you to fill out. There is a small entry fee, (14:33) which is super reasonable.
And you will have the opportunity to bring in your piece of art (14:42) on September 1st down to the Oregon Trail Center. It will be on display the entire month. (14:48) And then you’ll come back and collect it at the end of the month.
But during that time, (14:54) the bus tours are still coming through the Oregon Trail Center. And so, excuse me, people from all (15:01) over the world who come and take these tours will have the chance to see what you’ve done, (15:06) as well as everyone in the community. And she’s also putting together some classes.
(15:11) There’s going to be an all day young adult themed workshop for the high schoolers in the area. (15:19) And there’ll be a family night where moms and dads can, you know, bring their kids or (15:25) adult kids, like in my case, and just enjoy the evening together. So really be thinking about (15:34) what do you like to create? And is that something that you’d enjoy sharing with the community? (15:39) I think you do, because I think it’s fantastic to see what everyone has, you know, lying beneath (15:46) them and what makes them happy, what brings them joy.
So again, come down to the fair, (15:51) look for Jocelyn Wilson’s booth, and get that information. Or once again, come find the (15:57) Bear Lake Arts Council on Facebook, or send us an email at bearlakeartscouncil at gmail.com. (16:05) And we’ll send you whatever information you need. But don’t feel shy.
Don’t feel shy to reach out (16:11) because this event is meant to celebrate, it’s meant to edify, it’s meant to uplift, (16:18) it’s meant to shine a light on who we are as people and what makes us tick. And we want to (16:26) see that whether you feel a little bit hesitant to share or whether you’re just all gung-ho and (16:31) want to do this. We want to be that resource in helping you feel as though what you’re doing is, (16:42) is as valuable as it is because it truly is.
The things that we create are so valuable because (16:47) they’re extensions of our souls. And we want to see that we want to celebrate who you are. So (16:54) check out Jocelyn at the fair, or check out Facebook or send us an email.
(16:59) Let us get you involved in this and let’s make this a great event. And then even if you don’t (17:03) have anything that you’d like to exhibit, come down and see the exhibits. Jocelyn puts on a (17:09) fantastic display on the upper floor there at the Oregon Trail Center.
And you can come and walk (17:14) through and see what your friends and neighbors have put together and just enjoy some really (17:20) beautiful things. So I’ve just talked really fast. What questions do you have, Lisa? What can I (17:26) think? You answered everything.
And I’ve tried to write down dates and times and things to remember. (17:34) And we’re going to keep plugging these things. And I know that we’ll see you again because like you (17:40) said, there’s a lot going on right here.
But I know there’s other things coming up with the (17:45) holidays as well. We’ve got a lot going on. And so I will be back.
That’s kind of, that’s like a (17:51) promise and also a warning. I’ll be back. But we just have so many fun things going on.
And (17:58) we just really want to reach out to the community and get the community involved and come have fun (18:02) with us. It’s more fun to have fun with other people, not just ourselves. I mean, you know, (18:10) we’re kind of a laugh riot.
So you really should come check us out. All right. Well, thank you, (18:14) Tristi, for coming in for all that you do for the community because you’re doing a ton of great (18:18) stuff.
And we thank you for sharing your talents and time with us. And yeah, we’ll keep plugging (18:28) these things. We’ll get people out to them and then we’ll talk to you again soon.
Yes, absolutely. (18:33) Thank you, Lisa.