To the Editor:

Congratulations to Sharon Mogg, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, and her committee, for the excellent job they did in bringing the Hot Air Balloon Festival to Grant County. Bravo!

People do not always understand how much time and effort go into producing such an event; i.e., time, telephone work, gathering the work force to help … Sandy Gilson, Chamber president; Athene Moline, director, and Jerry Franklin, past president, provided terrific support. I would like to have seen a few more Chamber members there.

Enough cannot be said about Sue Newstetter and her crew, Susan Horn, Jeff Williams and others, who did a great job providing a wonderful dinner and festive environment for the event. Russell’s Meats provided the meat, Kathy Moss offered her cowboy poetry, and the Upriver Country Band did the music – showing some of the great talents here in Grant County.

The new Mt. Vernon Community Hall was a great site for the weekend activities. Donation of that space, along with sponsorship by many businesses and a great wine-tasting put on by Gardner’s, helped make the event come together. It’s because of them that these events are able to happen.

And of course, we greatly appreciate all of the pilots who traveled from far away to participate in the event, and all of the locals who helped crew the balloons for a successful lift-off. What a truly beautiful and romantic sight!

Sherry Craig-Miller (Pasko) and David Pasko

Fox/John Day